4 new friends and 2 new baptismal dates!

Good morning family and friends! 

We've had a busy week! We had lots of first meetings from facebook and lots of other finding! 

Highlights:

Tuesday: Exchange with Elder Hattori after DCM! That was cool, we did some housing! There is someone named Daisy who I've been messaging on facebook recently and she told us that she wanted to come to church, she wasn't able to come the week before last, but we met her while we were housing! He has a really rough situation where sometimes she isn't safe in her own house, but we got there right as she needed us to. It was a blessing for her.

Wednesday: We met up with a new dude from facebook, his resturant is nearby the college in yatsushiro so we tried to do some finding over there! it wasn't the greatest, but I want to try again!

Saturday: Trip to Hitoyoshi! My area has 3 main cities: Yatsushiro, Hitoyoshi, and Minamata. I was able to go to minamata once to visit a member, and this Saturday I was able to go to Hitoyoshi! The Uehara family lives there as well as our friend Akmal, and someone new who wanted to meet and  talk about Jesus from facebook! It was a very busy trip, but we made the return bus and got back to our apartment just before 9pm! There is no train that goes to Hitoyoshi so we rode the highway bus, it took about 45min-1hr, but it was such a beatiful drive. Yatsushiro is so flat, but the mountains between yatsushiro and hitoyoshi are so beautiful! When we were coming back at night, yatsushiro reminded me so much of Texas, coming back into spring after a long drive, the roads are taller than the buildings, and all you can see are light up business signs (and there was only english on all the signs!) I'm excited to drive when I get home.

Sunday: We had 4 people come to church, Daisy and Lyka (who are friends but didn't know they would see each other at church :0 ), Yamamoto san (a members friend who I got to introduce and study from the Book of Mormon with), and Pae! Our new members and normal friends weren't able to come for some mysterious reason, but it was perfect, we got to have a lesson with Daisy and Lyka during 2nd hour instead of teaching english sunday school. It was so spirit-filled. One of our less active members jointed with us and shared her story on how she met missionaries so long ago, then after she shared that Daisy and Lyka shared things about us and how they had recognized the Lords hand in many ways I hadn't even seen. The spirit was so strong, we taught about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and then because they both had undeniable experiences that proved this is God's church, we set a goal for them to be baptized next month on the 23rd! We will have to work through issues with work on sunday but please pray that when we talk to their employers they will feel the spirit and allow them to have sundays off. 

I want to testify that this is God's work and that He guides and directs us, even when we don't notice. God uses us to answer others' prayers. When I messaged Daisy the first time it was just normal for me, but to her, it was a direct answer to her prayer at that very moment. When we knocked on her door, to me, it was just another door, but to her it was God sending a sign that this was the church she needed to go to. When we stopped Lyka to talk to her on the street, she was just another person passing by to us, but she was actively searching for the catholic church since she had heard there was one by, but since we sent the messages, knocked the doors, and called out to God's children, we are able to direct them to the one who can give them direction. When I sat down by Yamamoto san after church I was scared that I wouldn't understand his japanese, or that it would be awkward and I wouldn't know what to say, but because I did I was able to bring him to a greater knowledge of his savior and redeemer. He, and our other friends were able to feel the guidance and comfort of the spirit for maybe the first time in their lives. I testify that God knows and loves you personally, and that, if you allow Him, He will use you to answer the prayers of those around you. I testify that being a good example softens people's hearts, before Daisy moved to Japan, she lived near a church in the Phillipines, she said that anytime there was a calamity the church, didn't panic, they were prepared, reacted, and helped others. So keep being prepared, keep sharing God's love with your family and friends, and I testify and promise in the name of Jesus Christ that one day they will recognize that light and love, even if it isn't in this life.

I love you! Have a good week :)

Jared