Blowfish? And Some More Miracles

So I sent you guys a package and you said that it got opened up. I didn`t send any blowfish...so I have no idea what that`s about. And the drinks were empty when I sent them to you - of course I would drink them - they were way too tasty to send home to you guys :) I just thought they were hilarious - I don`t know if it`s in Japanese or English, but it says "Pinapples of the Carribean" And has fruit Pirates - definitely amazing. I sent that package like three months ago though, so I forget what was in there. Enjoy :)

So a rather inspiring thing happened this past week. The four of us went out to an area and decided to do some extreme dendo (dendo is japanese for proselytizing). We had two hours - it was me and Elder Smith versus the Portugese Elders - who could do more. We ran from house to house, and had a great old time. Fifteen minutes before it was over, we ran into a Brazillian lady named Lucianna. She didn`t speak any Japanese or English - but somehow we communicated and told her we`d be back in fifteen minutes. we grabbed the other Elders and visited her again, it was about 8:45 at night. It turns out that she had met missionaries in Brazil - her whole family was baptized - and she wanted to be baptized, she just didn`t know where the church was. Her husband doesn`t know anything about the church, but they both came to church this past weekend and are looking good. It was increadible. All I can do is shake their hand, but it was quite the expreience to find someone that was so ready and so willing. I`m so grateful everything worked out so well. We are being exceedingly blessed.

I`m coming to also really love the branch here as well. There`s one family in particular that I`ve come to really like - the Imai family. The mother joined the church twenty or so years ago, but it wasn`t until about two years ago that her two daughters, and later the father, were also baptized. This last December they were sealed for eternity in the Tokyo temple and now are just a family that radiates happiness. They can`t speak anything but Japanese, but still have family home evenings with Heliane and her family, who just got baptized last month. Next Monday, Elder Smith, the Imai family, and I are going to go to a special day game of the Nagoya Dragons baseball team - I am very excited about that. Maybe get a hat or something :)

This last week, some days were challenging, but Elder Smith and I got on our knees quite a bit in search for answers. We were blessed so much.

Every morning for exercise, we go for a little jog to the beach, and run along the boardwalk listening to th waves lap up. The world is so beautiful, you know? It just amazes me.

I love you all so very much. I pray for you and keep you in my thoughts as well. Thanks for your prayers, letters, and thoughts. I`ll talk to you in just a couple weeks :)

Love always,

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

Elder Smith and Suzuka

Things are on fire down here! Missionary work is fantastic - the sun is ablaze - and the Spirit is strong as we got down to business this past week. Lots of doors, but lots of good people too. We were teaching up a storm!

So we gave all of our investigators over to the other two elders - because they`re both Brazillians and all our investigators were latinos - so it`s back to the streets for Elder Smith and I. Actually, we`re going to be working with a lot of members all week long, studying PMG with them and talk to them about their friends. I`m just excited to be here and able to work hard.

I got sunburned on saturday - our ward had a big barbeque and we were out in the sun for quite a bit. You know how your skin has a constant warm sensation when it`s burned - yeah, it`s pretty nice. I don`t even have to sleep with my futon cover - i`m just nice and comfy warm all the time now.

Elder Jordan Miles Smith is from Sacramento California - and he is way fun. He went to BYU the same time I did, and will be going back too. We are just having a great time.

I`m doing well, thanks so very much for your prayers. I am happy, and so peaceful. I know that you are in God`s care - which is a very good feeling.

Have a great week!

Love forever,

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

Suzuka Goes Four Man

So we got the phone call today announcing transfer which will take place tomorrow. Elder Jordan Smith (from Utah I think) will become my new companion here in Mexico...I mean Suzuka. I`ve worked with him quite a bit, and he`s a way good guy. We`ll have tons of fun - I`m going to work him like crazy. In addition, Elder Muniz is coming with a new missionary, both of them are Brazillian, making the Suzuka aprtmant a four person party. I am very, very excited.

We had General conference broadcasted here this past weekend. I have a tradition of eating cereal between sessions - and so I bought a giant bag of chocolate cereal flakes, a liter of milk, and had a party in my mouth. Cereal is porbably one of the best inventions in the entire world.

This last week has been interesting - Elder Caro`s preperation to go home. It`s been yet another learning experience.

Registration for BYU started this past week - that`s WAY too early. Oh well, I`ll worry more about that when I get home.

Well, it`s a little short this week, but I am good and happy. I love being a missionary very much. I`ll give more details next week.

Thanks so much for your love and prayers - especially from Noah :)

Love always,

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

Man This Food Is Going To Make Me Gain Weight

We`ll be watching general conference this upcoming weekend, but I did hear about Elder Christofferson being chosen as the newest member of the quorum of the twelve. However, something equally interesting back here was the calling of Gary E. Stevenson from Providence, Utah to the first quorum of the seventy. He was my mission president before President Traveller! That`s crazy.

Well this week was spent with Heliani Kubota and her family, as well with Julio - all four who have got baptized the last month. Readying the scriptures with them, answering questions, and eating a LOT of good brazillian food was came to past this week. Happiness indeed.

A couple of interesting realizations were had as well. Throughout the week, I had been praying for increased faith. Understanding of faith as well. After several days, I was led to Luke 17. The Savior teaches about forgiveness, which is something sometimes hard to hear. In response, they petitioned the Lord, "Increase our faith." When I read this, I echeod in my thoughts the same petition, "Yeah, increase my faith too, please." Christ then gives a parable in verses 6-10 - the unprofitable servant.

If we had faith - we could do miracles indeed, but at the same time, we are merely servants doing as He commands. Faith in Jesus Christ - doing as He asks us, would allow us to do such miracles if it were expedient. However - in our position, we never earn power or the ability to work miracles. We never earn anything. We can`t. We can`t earn investigators or baptisms. We have been bought by Christ, and thus we serve Him with no thought of reward - though He does grant us rewards - and faith - indeed. Luke 17:3-10 is worth a read, maybe you`ll understand it, or at least be able to explain it, a bit better than I. In short, my prayer was answered.

Yesterday, during Sacrament meeting, and during the sacrament, I was trying to think about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I had an interesting thought.

The Secret Service has the job of protecting the President from bullets and other bad things. THe idea is that if someone shoots at the president, they will jump in front of the bullet and save his life. One way to look at our position is that we are that President or important person. The gun of justice has fired a bullet at us in response to our sins. Christ jumps out and takes the bullet for us, saving our eternal lives. However, Christ is actually much better than just a Secret Service agent, and yet because He loves us, he does it.

Yeah, this all was generated by remembering the movie First Kid - that`s a pretty funny/silly movie.

Well, I love you all very much. Thank you so much for your prayers and support. I am much strenghtened by them. The Kanji practice goes well - I`m nearing 700, almost a third of the standard 2000! It`s pretty fun, I`ll teach you some cool things when I get home.

You are in my thoughts and prayers. I look forward to hearing more.

Love your son and brother,

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