A Fiesta and Sleeping Well

Well, Elder Williams and I decided to go hardcore this week and work like dogs. Oh man, we knocked a LOT of doors. It was crazy fun - and I slept so well. Also, I made Taco Rice for us and the Elders from Komatsu thanks to the taco mix that my mom sent me. Oh man, what a fiesta. Other than that, not a while else that interesting happened - although there are a LOT of religions out there. Talking with all these older ladies has been quite an experience as we tract through the afternoons. Of course most people are Buddist, and that`s like most people are Catholic in other parts of the world, but then you run into some people that are part of some, how should we put it, different religions that I`ve never heard of before. They always try to preach to us too. I dunno, it`s just amusing after a while - but I see where they`re coming from a lot of the time. If you don`t have a Christian base, you have to find something. Very interesting.

I read Philippians 3 today and it really touched me. Paul`s testimony is so powerful. He was part of the Fellowship of his suffering - remenicent of something Pres. Eyering wrote called "The fellowship of the Unashamed" I invite you to read that chapter slowly, a couple times (because the English is WAY hard), and picture him writting it. It is filled with emotion and power.

I love you all so much and am excited to hear from you. The Spirit is with my companion and I and we are both happy. May we all be in the Fellowship of Suffering with Christ, is my prayer,

Always,

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

Takayama, Zone Conf, Valentine`s Jazz and Nanao

Well this week was up, down, sideways and every other direction that Willy Wonka`S elevator can go - oh man...

We started off with a companion exchange with the Elders in Takayama. They live so far away (about 2-3 hours depending on your train) that we actually were with them for two days. They are both very new missionaries - and yet they are doing very well. It was quite humbling to be honest, to see that fire and zeal, but Elder Williams and I have talked a lot and hope to incorporate some of what we learned from them. It`s funny how we learn sometimes. Also, lately we have been praying a lot for direction - it`s just interesting how that direction came.

That brought us to Zone Conference - which went very well. Working with members is the focus - and Preach My Gopsel as well. However, an interesting principal was brought up - Doctrine and Covenants 82:10 reads: "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." Elder (now President) Uchtdorf told the mission presidents this last Mission President`s Seminar that this promise applies to Preach My Gospel. As we do what it says - we shall see success. There`s something that made me rethink some things.

After Zone Conference and another English Class, the next couple days were spent in preperation and performance in our Valentine`s Jazz Concert. It was a fantastic success and a really fun time. One of our English Class students, Ms. Goto, is a professional jazz pianist, so with her, and Sister Mills who is pretty good at singing, we performed five songs: Over the Rainbow, Danny Boy, Imagine (the John Lennon one, to which ELder WIlliams also sang a bit), St. Thomas (to which we had everyone compose lyrics to and then sang a few of them) and When You Wish Upon a Star (which everyone sang at the end). I played decently - especially since I haven`t practiced in a year and a half - but what really made the night was the decorations. Hundreds of hearts, heart candles at tables, and a DISCO BALL! That`s right, we found a disco ball in the shed outside - I was thouroughly pleased. Lots of English class students and friends of members came which made it way fun as well. TO top it all off, we made lots of heart cookies and had them decorate them. It was an activity to remember. Fun fun fun. Also, a good spiritual thought about how romantic love is important in marriage - but how foir lasting relationships, Christ-like love, or charity, is also essential. What a great evening.

Finally that takes us to sunday where we took the two hour train ride to the remote branch of Nanao. Elder Ishii of the Seventy and the stake president went with us to make a total of thirteen in attendance. Nevertheless, the members in Nanao Japan and the members of the twelve apostles both partake of the same sacrament each week - and have the same opportunities of blessings. It was humbling and peaceful.

Well, this next week is going to be my faith week. Investigators are a little low - and time to go out and find people is quite high. So with faith, desire, prayer, dedication, and a little fun, I hope to really work hard this next week and find some new people to teach. Elder Williams is likewise committed, and I think we`ll see some good things.

I appreciate your prayers and support from home - they keep me going sometimes. You`re in my prayers and thoughts from time to time. I love you.

Yours,

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

Back To The Streets

What a great week with some good old fashion hard work. It started off well last monday with a fantastic preperation day. We went to the Samurai district part of town - and since there were like seven of us, we just had a fun time joking around. We went into this old museum of like an old pharmacy. It was really cool, except the was a random brocken television in the back of one of the rooms. We all thouroughly enjoyed commenting about how it was a Samurai Television. Also along the roads, we would occasionally see Samurai cars drive by and then Samurai way too expensive gift shops. The Samurais were a pretty sophisticated and evolved society I guess. I actually bought a way nice mug that was from the pottery style that`s famous is Kanazawa - now who should I send it home too? Also, Kanazawa is famous for it`s gold leafing - basically supplying Japan with gold. They have so much actually, that it is a fine delacousy to put little bits of gold on food. You can actually by these gold shavings (of course I bought some - gold food, can you get any classier?) and put them on your own food. Well Elder Williams thought this was the funniest thing in the world, so he bought some, and then we went to McDonalds. On his dollar cheeseburger, he sprinkled some gold - and we enjoyed it to the fullest extent that one can. What a good day.

The rest of the week invloved some companion exchanges - which brought me to Toyama and Takoaka with a coupld other Elders, 24 hours each respectively. We talked a lot, and worked a lot too. It was pretty fun. One of the Sister Missionaries` investigators - Goto Yumi - her had got in a car accident a couple weeks ago, so we went and visited her dad. That was pretty fun - though he was not really a talkative person. However, I evetually got him to start talking a little bit - mostly because I always ask people really silly questions. Well, they`re not silly, but I`ve heard the answer a thousand times before- but hey, whatever gets people talking, and whatever makes them cheer up a little. He was smiling quite a bit by the time we left - and it felt good to be able to visit him. Old people speak WAY hard Japanese - so it would be hard to do here, but when I get back in America - it would be pretty fun to just walk around a hospital for a while and make some friends. I dunno, probably sounds silly - but it would be fun I think. I certainly wouldn`t be nervous talking to new people like I was before. It`s way fun to meet people.

Lots of doors to be knocked - and Elder WIlliams and I are just having a blast. Just a handful of lessons taught each day, but a very rewarding feeling when we come back home at night. As we work, the Spirit comes and joins us. With the Spirit, people`s hearts are touched, and then we begin to see some things happen.

Elder Smith, who`s my district leader in Takoaka right now, participated in a lenghty and in depth discussion about enthusiasm and hope. We eventually arrived at the question - How do we maintain and keep enthusiasm and hope from day to day? When it is lost, how do we gain it back? We both resolved to pray on the subject. THis time, it didn`t come to me, but Elder Smith got a profound answer. Whenever we lose hope, he said, we need to repent. THe scripture he gave was in Aaron`s councel to King Lamoni`s Father, Alma 22:16, "But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest." That is exactly how we gain hope. This just sounded perfect to me - I was surprised by the simplicity and the power of which Elder Smith explained the answer he recieved. I am grateful that answers to our questions come - through many sources.

Finally, I close with a story that warmed my heart. Elder Smith was actually the one who replaced me in Shimizu when I transfered out of ther about a year ago. I left behind 93-year-old Satake Hiromitsu - who Elder Smith actually baptized. Being 93, I always kind of wondered just how much he understood - even though he was very humble and believed and trusted the missionaries. Before Brother Satake was baptized, his son gave him the Book of Mormon stories book - a pciture book at a fourth grade level with stories from the book of Mormon. One Day, Elder Kruger (my former companion) and Elder Smith came to brother Satake`s house, just before his baptism. They came into him reading on his own, that children`s book. Tears were flowing down Brother Satake`s cheeks. He felt something that caused him to cry. I still don`t know exactly how depe his knowledge is, but I was assured that he knows that it is true. He still comes to church - even if he has to call a taxi. God loves him, and I am sure He is pleased with our dear brother.

If this wasn`t God`s work, it could`t go forward as it is. I am grateful to be a part of it. If I were to walk away from it, it would continue without problems - but it`s in my envolvement that I have been able to witness so many tender mercies of the Lord. I love you all very much and pray for those mercies to enwrap you as you pass through the cold storms.

Always,

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

Working With Members

Well hello everyone - I heard the Groundhog saw the shadow his shadow - so six more weeks of winter. I tried to explain what a groundhog was and what february second meant in America - but I don`t think my Japanese friends quite understood it. First, there is no word for groundhog - the closest thing they have is "woodo chuku" for wood chuck. It`s just not quite the same - though it`s definitely still winter over here.

I was able to watch President Hinkley`s Funeral which was broadcasted to the Kanazawa steak center. It was a good service - with some laughs and some profound thoughts. The bagpipes at the end were a nice touch too. However, while watching the service with some other American missionaries - there were a few things that we all agreed on:

America has a LOT of white people. Girls have real blonde hair - that's way weird. The streets are HUGE and people drive on the right. Houses have yards. And in the end, we all don`t really miss America too much. Yeah, I miss English, but wherever there are Latter-Day Saints and other good people - it is a good place.

My dad sent me a package which also included some silly string. Elder Williams and I have been thinking and talking a LOT about what the opportune time to use it would be. Obviously, more thourough meditation will be required.

I`m trying to maybe get some pictures sent soon...I`m working on it, sorry it`s been a while.

Well of the good experiences of this week - I`ll just touch a couple. Tuesday was Zone Leader Council which meant a total of seven hours round trip of trains to Nagoya. The gathering was spiritual as we discussed Preach My Gospel and especially working with members. Working with members has been the keyword for decades now, but how to actaully do it has been the mystery. President Traveller himself quoted from his journal as a young missionary in the seventies that they too were trying various programs. However, the difference now, President Traveller said, is that we have Preach My Gospel - which will make the difference. Elder Williams and I are testing the program out, and being able to help members to take that courage and act is a rewarding experience.

On Thursday, we had an opportunity that I will not soon forget. A recently found investigator had us over to his home to discuss things with him. As we sat down, I felt prompted to ask about his plans for after our appointment. He said that he was going to a funeral for a co-worker in just a couple hours. I asked him about what he thought about the next-life, and a discussion followed. What a blessed chance to lay forth the doctrine of the plan of salvation so that he could know personally where he came from, why he is here, and where his friend went as he passed through the veil. A timely truth for current questions. Most of all, the spirit was overwhelming as Mr. Kobayashi said the closing prayer. Simply adressing Our Father, he said, `my friend wasn`t a very good guy, but please help get into heaven.` How grateful I am for a merciful and loving God, and the restored truth about the state of souls passing from this realm. In reality - I think more the reason we cry at funerals isn`t for the loved one who passed - but rather that we are going to without their company for a period of time. One day, as we`ve read, our tears will all be wiped away.

Thanks for your continued prayers and support. They help. May we all be at peace, Always,

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