Sunday, November 3, 2013

More photoage



 So we decided to do email at our apartment this morning and the internet has proved to be impressively, even astonishingly slow.  Sorry about that!  I tried to send this email and pictures a few times, but the connection failed and lost the draft.  Sooo, I have a letter that I wrote to President Budge that I am hoping will get to you and give you a bit of an idea of what happened this week.

Dear family, thank you for your patience and prayers and love and faith.  We had miracles this week--investigators found, lessons taught, invitations extended, and faith built. 

I don't think I really realized how greatly blessed I am to be part of the Dave and Lorene Williams family before.  Thank you so much for your examples of faith, hope, love, and becoming.  That goes for the Williams family and Brown family as well.  Oh, I am so grateful!  I love you all. 

Sister Williams

Dear President Budge,

Thank you so much for your transfer email--it really boosted my hope, courage, and testimony that God is directing this work and lovingly and patiently working through us to bring His truth to those who do not currently have it. It is so wonderful! Again, thank you. 

As we worked to invite others this week, we experienced a lot of miracles! We had our first lesson with a sister and two of her children this week and in that lesson, Jones shimai recited the First Vision for the first time and I got to extend the invitation to be baptized, which they accepted--with the qualifier of more study. They, especially the mother of this family, readily received the message of the Restoration and we left the lesson feeling elated. The next time we taught them, we felt the same hope and joy. I am learning that teaching and sharing and testifying of truth and inviting others to know this truth for themselves brings real joy. Another miracle that we had this week is our friend, a 23 year old young woman who came to church for the first time last week and in a phone conversation with Nagamine shimai later in the week expressed that she wants to become a member. Woah! Sometimes we are not exactly sure how to teach her everything, but as we study and seek the Lord's help, I know that He has inspired us and will continue to direct us to meet her needs. Last one--our meeting with a referral. We determined to meet her at the church  and establish expectations. Some members  were there cleaning the church and guess what? They knew this sister! When they realized that they knew her, they invited all of us to lunch and we had a really good conversation about this sisters understanding of the church and what more she wanted to learn. So cool. 

The work is moving forward in Narita and I feel so blessed to be a part of it with Sister Nagamine and Sister Jones. They are great companions who strive to constantly improve. I am grateful for their examples and eager desire to help others. I also appreciate the time to study. I feel like that preparation is so key to my ability to focus on what really matters rather than my inadequacy and weakness. The perspective that the Lord can work through me to accomplish His work and help others strengthens me daily and I am so grateful for it. As part of that study this week, I read a bit in the Bible--including Luke 1:57--to find examples of those who had that perspective-including Mary the mother of Jesus and Elisabeth. These women are such heroes to me! There are so many heroes who give me strength and hope and direction and an image of who I want to become and I am so grateful. Thank you to you and Sister Budge and all the missionaries here that provide such examples as well. Seriously, I feel so generously blessed to be serving with so many wonderful people in this great cause. I look forward to going forward with love and courage this week! 


No comments:

Post a Comment

Another Witness

One of my favorite ideas to discuss with people is how God shows up unexpectedly in their lives. Whether its new thought while being still, ...