Parties with President

Well this transfer ended with a flourish. I did get my call today telling me my companion was transferring to England, and that my new companion is Elder Golladay. He’s a way cool guy - and speaks Portuguese, so we’ll have some fun with Brazilians this next transfer. Elder Golladay is a way strong guy - and he told me on the phone that "we’re going to get huge - drink some protein." Yeah...we’ll see how that goes.

Monday night we had a great family home evening. Gathering lots of boxes and tape, we built seven or eight sets of the Armor of God. Mine was amazing - though Elder Pratt brought his real sword and beat everyone else up with it. The pictures are on the way soon - they’re fun. Wednesday night was our English class party - which was way fun. I played the sax again - I always forget how much I miss playing until I get the chance. Some new students came and had a great time.

Thursday the assistants came down to our area, and then one of them and I took their car up to the city of Nagano to exchange with the elders there. The assistants were way fun. Elder Shuto, a Japanese Elder, talked to me about how he came on a mission. He and his twin weren’t very active in the church (actually, he was part of a motorcycle gang - way cool) but when their older brother got back from his mission in Fukuoka, and they saw how much he had changed, Elder Shuto and his brother both wanted very much to serve missions. Right now his twin is the assistant in Hiroshima, and Elder Shuto is doing a great job here in Nagoya. It’s powerful to see the effect that one’s family members have on each other.

Friday, President and Sister Traveller came to Matsumoto to conduct interviews. Afterwards, they stayed the night and attended our Halloween party. The sister missionaries here had planned an incredible party - to which close to sixty people came - half of them being non-members. Elder Pratt and I dressed up as Pirates, and Sister Traveller donned the scariest witch costume I’ve ever seen. A bunch of our investigators came, which was great. Everyone had fun and everyone felt welcome. The haunted house we built in the entrance of the church scared lots of people too. Overall a great evening.

That night, President Traveller stayed in our apartment. It was fun to be with him, but what I will remember more than anything, was how he prayed. He closed our day with prayer and it felt as if he were truly talking to God face to face. To hear him pray from both Elder Pratt and I quite extensively, and then for so many others by name so specifically, and so humbly, was a great learning experience. He truly is a man of God, called by revelation.

Our investigators are all doing well. Elder Pratt is actually coming to church with his family (as Brother Pratt) this next Sunday, so I think a bunch of the people we have been teaching will make the extra effort to see his there.

I am so blessed. The whether is beautiful, and the typhoons are scarce. More than anything, I feel loved.
On my new planner for this transfer, I wrote on the cover some of my examples. This is what I wrote:
Faith of Moroni
Courage of Abinadi
Patience of Job
Obedience of Nephi
Service of Ammon
Power of Paul
Loyalty of Ruth
Humility of Hyrum
Prayer of Enos
Conversion of Alma
Leadership of King Benjamin
Love of Jesus Christ

That we may all follow these examples and more is my prayer, Always,

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

"Come Back in Six Years and You can Marry My Daughter"

So this week turned out a little bit different than planned. Okay, a LOT different, but in the end it was still a great week. So Miss Yamamoto passed her baptismal interview on Sunday and then the sister missionaries called her Monday night to schedule another lesson. To their surprise, the phone call went a little differently. She said that her family was highly opposed to her becoming a Christian, and especially her daughter was very angry at her. So, she asked twice, to be left alone, and then hung up.

The sisters of course visited her anyway the next day, and every day this week, but she didn’t answer the door. The poor sisters still struggle to hold back tears when they see a picture of her. It is sad - and there’s not much more to say other than recognize how strong of an enemy Satan is. The war is real.

I went on exchanges up to Ueda on Tuesday and had a great day there. We taught a blind man and his wife all about the Book of Mormon. I don’t think I’ve had as much fun teaching, or as captive an audience as these two wonderful people. The husband was constantly taking notes in Braille (Japanese Braille) of everything I said. We just went through the pages and Elder Peterson and I shared our love for the word of God with them. We left, all four of us wanting to read more and more. The Spirit was incredible.

Wednesday and Thursday were a special treat. Elder Pratt and I went down to Nagoya (again) for a two day conference with Kelly Mills. Brother Mills is a return mission president from Fukuoka Japan and is currently the director of all 16 international MTCs. I had the opportunity to see him last year actually, when I was in the Provo MTC. The conference was amazing in the fact that he didn’t teach us anything new! Nothing at all. Instead, he taught the exact, same stuff that we had heard a hundred times from "Preach My Gospel,” but he did it in such a way as to change our perspective of it. What hit me the very most, and reconfirmed over and over was this principal: The programs established by revelation will work - the problem is that we just aren't carrying them out fully. PMG is exactly what will move the work; we just need to follow it more closely. Home-teaching is what will strengthen wards; we just need to fulfill our assignments. More than anything, we focused a lot on planning. He taught over and over that "Planning is not Scheduling" but that "Planning is sacred time to receive revelation." I think that is very true and I have already seen the visible results of implementing more fully PMG guidelines.

Finally, we come to this weekend. There was a mini-youth conference in our area, so lots of good youth came to our area and we helped out with their activities a bit. We also had three young men that we met - just friends - come as well and had a great time. Particularly amazing was how much the youth members helped to fellowship these three young men we brought. The Branch President's daughter - now 15, was great in introducing herself and everyone else. On Sunday, when I informed the Branch President of how much his daughter helped, he replied, "Come back in six years and you can marry my daughter." Our Branch President is a very funny guy - but that is still an awkward statement no matter how much you try to laugh. Oh well.

Church was amazing. We had four investigators at sacrament meeting, and three more show up for Sunday school and a ward meal afterwards. The sisters also had an investigator come. We are seeing blessings - and even though we will have to wait a little more to see baptisms, I can assure you, I have seen miracles.

We have received revelation and have done our best to act upon it. That is when things get done. As Joseph Smith taught, "Salvation can not come without revelation. It is vain for anyone to minister without it." With that as our new focus in all we do, we have been blessed with such in our ministry. May we all receive such revelation from God, and have the faith to conquer Satan is my prayer,

Always,

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

Tender Testimony

More than ever before, I have been filled with a profound sense of gratitude for the multitude of tender mercies which God has showered upon me. I am so blessed to be serving here as a missionary and seeing the mighty miracles taking place in others` lives.

This past Thursday, we met with Sister Wang along with some other members to teach her some more about temples, families, and the other goals of which we should strive for. At the conclusion of the lesson, I told my story of how I came to embrace the restored gospel and invited everyone there to do the same - going around one by one. Next to last was Sister Wang (we call her Jaty because that’s her English name). Hearing her testimony was worth every rejection I’ve received thus far.

She told of growing up in China among two very good parents. They always taught her that God was watching over her and that God would protect their dear daughter. When she became a teenager, she came to Japan for High school and was among many friends in Kyoto. They took her to a Christian church and she came to love the Bible very much. Years past and it came for her to go to college, in Matsumoto. The first year was difficult. She was once again alone - living in a strange land - and feeling a little forsaken. She said that she started losing her enthusiasm to continue and felt so lonely even among the hundreds of people because she still has a hard time with Japanese. She prayed and prayed. Then two young men, also foreigners, came to her door. She felt peace from them and knew they were honest and an answers to her prayer. She came to church - made friends - and came to know that she had found God’s church. Now she has hope, is so happy, and will never be comfortless.

As tears came down her face, I felt them well up in mine as well. Even though I’ve knocked on thousands of doors, the thought that there are others waiting and praying just like her, gives me added hope and enthusiasm.

Another miracle is a lady named Sister Kimiko Yamamoto. About a month ago, Elder Pratt and I found her and taught her the message of the restoration. We referred her to the sister missionaries and they taught her everything else. Yesterday, she passed her interview to be baptized a member of the Church - and I will have the honor of baptizing her this upcoming Sunday. The next Sunday, another one of the Sister missionaries friends, Sister Yuri Okuhara, will be baptized by Elder Pratt.

Sister missionaries are so good. Actually, I think there are just a lot more spiritually sensitive and prepared women out in the world than men. Silly men.

I was able to watch general conference this past weekend which was fantastic. Perhaps the part I will remember the most, was Elder Wirthland's talk. Being an older man, he started shaking quite a bit while speaking at the pulpit. Ever will I recall Elder Nelson coming up from behind him and steadying him through the rest of his address. What pierced my heart most is when I realized what I was seeing - an angel coming and sustaining him until he was finished.

Many, many times, members, friends, and especially my companions, have sustained me when I started shaking spiritually. I think many times, God chooses to work through others to steady and strengthen us. I am so grateful for angels - especially those in my family.

May we steady others and receive others help as well is my prayer, always,

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

God is Good

Life just couldn`t be better. Well, if they had mexican food in Japan, it perhaps could be - but I`ll stick with my declaration that life is good. Elder Pratt and I have just been seeing some great things here Nagano.

This past tuesday - a sister from our branch in matsumoto passed away - and her funeral was held on Thursday at the church. Okay, so that doesn`t sound liek good news at all, but let me continue. She was 67 and it was rather sudden that she passed away. For ten years or so, she hadn`t come to church at all, up until two years ago. Two years ago, an older couple served as missionaries in Matsumoto and were able to bring her back to church. For the last two years, up until she went to the hospitol, she was a faithful saint. What a blessing that she lived faithfully to the end - that she came back.

Her son is not a member, but her brother is, and it was a very spiritual funeral as her brother, and the branch leadership all talked of her and about the resurrection. Particulary moving were the hymns in which the Spirit was impressive.

Particularly interesting was how the branch came together for the funeral. Quite a few members who had stayed away from the church for one reason or another, came to the sisters funeral. It was very good to see them.

Above all, I am profoundly grateful for the resurrection brought to pass by Christ`s infinite atonement.

On Friday, we travelled down to nagoya once more for a mission conference with Elder Yamashita of the area prescidency. That train ride gets shorter every week - though it`s still four hours round-trip. The conference was good. I particularly liked the way he stated one iten of advice - "Keep your apartment clean - keep youreself clean." I think I might try and teach my kids a variation - "Keep your room clean - keep yourself clean." Of course, let`s be honest, my room was never clean until I had to live with a roomate.

Our investigators are all doing pretty well. Elder Pratt and i cooked mashed potatoes this past week - the first time I`ve had since I left America. They were heavenly. My health is good. Japanese is coming along. Really, life is as pleasant as spring. It`s also cooling off nicely here - fall is a wonderful season.

I hope you too can enjoy the gifts we`ve been given. Truly, God is good. May he bless you.

Always,

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