Julio

Well this week was all about Julio Tashiro - a very nice Brazillian man, mid thirties, who has been meeting with the missionaries for the last year or so. Tuesday night, Elder Caro and I were walking towards his apartment, talking. For the month of march, the Japan Nagoya mission had a goal of seeing twenty baptisms. We had gotten to sixteen, and this final week we needed four. Throughout the mission, we`ve been praying for this goal to come to pass and have all been working hard to exercise faith in preparing people. Those who had dates scheduled for this past weekend however, were looking a little shaky.

So, we decided to challenge Julio to be baptized this (past) weekend. After a long and Spirit filled lesson, he agreed to be baptized on Saturday night. All week long we worked with him, and then had his baptismal service Saturday night. I played my saxophone - two hymns, "Joseph Smith`s First Prayer" and "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" It went well. Heliani, who was batized two weeks ago, gave a talk at Julio`s baptism that was very good (or at least what Elder Caro translated in Japanese was good - I still don`t know any Portugese). He then was confirmed and recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost by the layig on of hands yesterday (Sunday).　

I have come to love Julio so much - he is like a brother indeed.

Two boys in Kanazawa that I started teaching a few months ago also got baptized yesterday, and with a couple other baptisms, our mission was able to see 21 miracles this past month. We are being abundatly blessed.

Lately I have been thinking a great deal about the Sermon on the Mount. I have desires to memorize it - we`ll see if it comes to pass or not. A talk I heard this past week talked about how the Sermon on the Mount has many temple relations - which makes it worth pondering more and more.

Today, the Zone heads to Yokkaichi to play some soccer - it should be pretty fun. Also, today is the 31st, to baskin Robin`s ice cream is 31 percent off. Normally it is WAY to expensive, but here`s our chance to indulge :)

Last friday, we had an excellent zone training meeting - talking about 1 Cor. 9:26-27. The English translation is pretty lousy - but the Japanese is pretty good. To translate from the Japanese, it would read something like: "I do not run without clearly defined goals. I do not box as one punching the air. However, I submit myself as if being punched - for fear that if I did not so, I may be disqualified to teach others." We talked about not "punching the air" but make every effort count. Sometimes, when we go around housing for hours, we can sometimes lose hope and enthusiasm. Doing anything a lot takes away the enthusiasm. But if we make it count, and put our heart in it, then we can win. Nevertheless, sumbitting ourselves is also vital.

Good things are happening. I am so grateful to be a missionary. It is always an adventure, that`s for sure. I love you all very much. May you feel His Spirit,

Always,

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

The Windows Of Heaven Are Opened

The good times roll on here in Suzuka. Heliane Kubota and her two daughters Nicoli and Hilari were all baptized and confirmed within the last couple weeks. They moved to Japan from Sao Paulo, Brazil about 15 years ago, so they can speak Japanese pretty well, but still Elder Caro speaks Portuguese with them. Sister Heliane especially is a great example of faith. Her biggest sacrifice in being baptized was giving up Coffee. She used to drink five cups a day at work to keep her going. However, she decided that it really wasn’t a huge sacrifice - compared with the blessings that come - and so she told all her friends she was stopping. This past week, she lost 2 kilos, and has more energy than ever - or so she tells me. Blessings have been poured out upon this small family as they make the sacred first covenant with God.

So sometimes I feel a little like a new missionary - not understanding anything being said. Okay- I understood more as a new missionary, to be honest. It’s kind of been a weird feeling - being surrounded by Spanish and Portuguese. I have come to love Japanese so much, and actually enjoy studying it now. I took my problems to the Lord in prayer. I’m in Japan - and though I can communicate pretty well - I still would benefit greatly from continuing to study Japanese. I asked the Lord what I should do. The answer came in the form of a scripture the next morning - 1 Cor. 14:19. The whole chapter deals with the gift of prophesy and the gift of tongues. 19 reads, "Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.” Basically, it doesn’t how much Japanese or English I can speak, if my investigators don’t understand it, it doesn’t matter. Just a five word testimony is of more worth than ten thousand words of the most moving lesson in an unknown language. So, I’ve made the determination to try and learn some Portuguese - at least enough to help a little in teaching. I feel confident that the Lord will assist me.

Lots of other good things happened this past week, including a very nice Zone Conference in Nagoya. We talked about "teaching as one" both in unity with our companions, and also teaching as The One - with examples and simple stories to illustrate gospel truths.

Everything is going well. Answers to prayers come - but so, so much patients is needed sometimes. I think maybe one of life`s biggest purposes is to develop our patient. God has so much of it - and we have to develop that somehow or other. Having that peace through the entire journey though - that makes it an adventure.

I love you all. Happy Easter! Definitely not even mentioned at church or anywhere else- but oh well, just a little different culture here. I made sure to do an Easter lesson for Gospel Principals. We read Chapter 20 of St. John. What interests me so much is that in that chapter, three people go from not believing to believing. Thomas believed after feeling Christ’s wounds. Mary believed after hearing her name, and John believed when seeing the empty tomb. Although we are more blessed to not see Christ and believe, I also don’t think he wants us to believe blindly. Indeed, the scriptures are written, "that [we] might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing [we] might have life through his name." (John 20:31) That through reading or seeing evidences, as John saw the empty tomb; we can receive that witness from the Spirit and know - through revelation.

The tomb is still empty today. What does that mean to us?

I am grateful for the resurrection - the crowning event of the atonement of Jesus Christ. I am grateful to share the message of hope with all - regardless of nationality or language. I am grateful to have all of you - remembering and using your teachings and examples. May we have His Spirit to be with us.

Always,

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

A Week In Fuji

So this past week I have actually been by the side of Mount Fuji on a week long companion exchange with Elder Peterson. There was a family getting baptized back in Suzuka, so the missionary who taught them for six months actually traded places with me for a week so he could perform one of the baptisms. Although it would have been fun to see, it`s been a week of small miracles here. Teaching up a storm, talking to lots of people, and finding a few interesting new investigators.

Thursday morning a phone call comes to the apartment. A man by the name of Mochizuki asks if we can meet him at the train station. We agree and head over before lunch time. Walking around, trying to figure out who this person could be, I was very surprised to see a familiar face. More than a year ago, when I was serving in Shimizu (about 45 minutes south of Fuji), I had met a Mochizuki. Well, one year later, and in different areas, somehow we are led to meet once again. Mr. mochizuki is a very nice guy, who has been meeting with missionaries on and off for around 30 years, he said. We were both surprised to see each other, and I was also very glad that I remembered him so well - many details about him. It was a nice reunion. After fifteen or twenty minutes, I challenged him to be baptized - and he`s thinking about it. It`s so interesting how God works - putting us in positions, so naturally, but anything but by chance.

I have always frimly believed that there are those who are prepared and ready to recieve the message which I have the opportunity to share with them. However, having met some of those people - realizing after the fact that this person is one of those who God wanted me to meet, it causes me to think. Most people I meet aren`t anything spectacular. They`re just normal people, treading water like we all are, trying to stay afloat. They face the same problems I do. There is nothing peculiar - and yet I have come to love them. Brother Satake, Sister Wang, Brother Reinaldo, Brother Kondo, and many, many more - normal by all aspects - except that I`ve grown to love them so much. They are my brothers and sisters. Just like Aimee - she`s not anything amazing - just a normal silly girl - and yet because of the things I`ve gone through with her, because of her reltionship to me, I love her very much - as I do all my family - temporal and spiritual. Even Christ, our Eldest Brother, is a man, and yet so much more. I`m not quite sure how to express this relization, but I hope it kind of gets through. Each person is ordinary, and yet so precious.

My gospel study has been pretty scattered but quite intersting. Alma 20-24, Hebrews, and then King Benjamin`s address are a few things I`ve read over a few times these past couple days. The latter is such an increadible discourse. If the Book of Mormon just had that one sermon - it would be a powerful book. The people at that time did just have that sermon, I guess, and it was as powerful then as now. His advice concerning the poor was particularly impressive to me today.
I quote from Mosiah four:

17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—
18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.
19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

Reading this, it still is chilling as I feel the call to repentance. Aren`t we all beggars in the end? Wow...profound. If only all leaders had something of the morals and inspiration that King Benjamin did, then great steps would be taken forward towards building Zion.

I love you all so much. I think about you from time to time. I don`t want to come home at all, but it would be fun to see you. If you flew here, with some mexican food from Chipotle, then life would be as amazing as it could get. :) I pray that you are all safe and happy. Work hard, and have fun too. Talk to you next week.

Love always,

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

No Me Gusta!

Hola, Oi fi!

So I just got transferred from Kanazawa Japan to South Padre Mexico! Actually, I`m in Suzuka, but I couldn`t tell the difference. From the balcony of my apartment I can see the Atlantic ocean (which kind of feels liek the gulf of Mexico). There`s tons of fast cars - including an f-1 racing track that we plan to visit today - and every language besides Japanese. The ward of around 60 people is half Japanese, and the rest are Brazillians, Bolivians, other Latinos, and Phillipinos. It`s a zoo of languages - and we get to translate all through church! Elder Caro is amazing. His Parents moved from Chili when he was 1, to Australia - so he speaks fluent Spanish, English (with that crazy auzzie accent), Portugese (which he`s picked up on the mission) and Japanese. What this all amounts to is teaching lots of South Americans lots of good lessons while I sit next to him and just pray in my head over and over. We`ll have a couple baptisms this upcoming weekend - and probably a few more in a couple more weeks. It`s a fiesta.

So last night, after teaching some investigators, we came to a party at one members house. Two of the ward missionaries - Brother Ricardo and Sister Nancy - drove us and we all had a big sushi party with about twenty people from the ward. Ricardo and his wife are both from Bolivia and only speak Spanish. As we drive from appointments, Sister Nancy tries to teach me Spanish in the back of the car. It`s slow, but pretty entertaining. Anyway, after we finished eating sushi and headed off to our final lesson appointment, we got into the car. As we drove off, Nancy started exclaiming "Sushi, no me gusta, no me gusta!" and pretended to throw up. It made me laugh quite a bit. Not liking Sushi is something easily understood across all borders. (actually, sushi is pretty good, just not 20-25 dollars good).

Being around so many foreigners has been really interesting. I forgot that people acted differently than japanese people. In Gospel Principals class that I taught this past week, lots of people were joking around and just having a great time ragging on one another. It remember faintly that fun stuff like that happens at church back home - but it was pretty peculiar. I kind of forgot that church isn`t serious 100% of the time - that it should be fun. Of course the most fun is when we are edified and enriched by the Spirit - but still, church should always be apleasurable experience.

Well, here`s the location of my apartment if you`d like to check it out on google Earth:

N 34 Degrees 50.175
E 136 Degrees 35.386

I`m doing very well and am very happy. This may be my last area - which is kind of sad - but it`s going to be an amazing adventure. I love you all so much -thanks for your prayers, they are well used. I`ll let you know more details on the adventure next week - until then, tudo ben, tudo efesta. (All is well, all is a fiesta!) With love always,

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