Washed Clean

Another chapter in the increadible adventure here in Japan. THis last Saturday, two of God`s children entered the waters of baptism and made that saced covenant with our Heavenly Father to follow His Son. It was probably the most spiritual baptismal service I`ve been to thus far. So who are they?

First was an eleven year old named Braian. (crazy way to spell Brian). He is almost as cool as Andre, and speaks a few more languages. He is from Bolivia, but becaude he grew up in Japan with lots of Brazillian friends, he speaks Spanish, Portugese, and Japanese all pretty fluently. His testimpony on saturday was this, `my mom (another investigator) always taught me the difference between right and wrong. Then I met the "Hermanos" (the Brothers in spanish, referring to the Missionaries), who taught me some more things. Everything they taught, I felt was right and true. They were pretty fun and nice as well. So, I decided to be baptized.` He`s the first one in his family, but his older brother has a date for June 28th and the mom said she`ll follow her son`s example sometime soon. Braian is definitely one of the purest, and coolest kids I`ve met. What a future he has.

Next was Thais. She`s the mother of two boys, and her husband is named Fabio (I still laugh about that). She`s been coming to English class for about a year now. She`s in her 20s, Brazillian, but has very good English. She wanted to be baptized for so long - though she didn`t want to join the church without her husband coming as well. Finally, after months of prayers, she decided to go on and take the first step in her family as well. We had Fabio talk at the baptismal service, to intruduce his wife. He said that he loved her, respected her decision, though hey wasn`t ready yet to follow (he said yet :) ), but that she was doing a good thing. She looked so pure after the baptism.

I played my saxophone at the service, along with another missionary, Elder Clark, who played the Piano and sang `I Know that my Redeemer Lives` It went well. What was almost more powerful was the fact that even though there were around twenty people at the service, and little kids, everyone was reverent and we all enjoyed the peace of the Spirit. Almost like the temple.

There was a couple that Elder Smith and I found - Luciana and Fernando - who were also supposed to get baptized this last saturday, except a little problem came up. I think it was tuesday or wednesday, the other Elders were talking with them and found out they weren`t actually married. Uh oh... because of legal problems with a former divorce, they actually weren`t able to get married, so they just moved in together and have a beautiful baby girl. Well, we got to work on that problem, talked to the Brazillian Embassy, and after their birth certificates arrive form Brazil, they will be able to get married. So you know what that means???

We get to plan a wedding reception!! Heliane is already spear-heading the planning - the colors are going to be white and dark blue - and it`s going to be a fiesta. They`ll get legally married sometime in about a week, and then on June 8th, we`ll have their baptism at 5 o'clock, and then a wedding reception at 6. Luciana has asked me to baptize her - because I was the first one she saw. What an honor and a blessing.

Elder Smith and I also have some good investigators coming through - it`s been a slow transfer, but from here on it`s serious. We`re going to work like crazies. We had transfer calls this morning, and all four of us are staying in Suzuka for another one (haleilujah!). The final six weeks have begun - we`re going to be running house to house. I am so very greatful to be here, and for all of your prayers. God be with you.

Love always,

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