Monday, December 21, 2015

JT - #ASaviorIsBorn

Dear Everyone,

#って、何?What is this # business? Is it something the kids say nowadays? I don't even know what a hashtag is anymore.. I've been out for a while...

Anyways, yes, this week is Christmas 2015!! I can't believe it's already by second Christmas in Japan. Christmas on a mission is really weird. Nothing like it is back home. It's really just another day, but we get to open some presents on Christmas morning. However, I am so excited and no matter where you are in the world, Christmas is the happiest time. I love it!
 
While Elder Parkin and I were looking for a member's house, we ran into a beautiful sight!  I felt we were in America again.  oh Christmas lights:)
Well, this week was pretty busy. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we said bye byes to some members and investigators for Elder Wharton. They are good days. The days before transfers are always the busiest because we want to say bye to everyone that we can. On Wednesday, we went out to eat Indo Curry with an investigator that Elder Wharton found. After that, we had a BBQ at a member's house. That was so fun and it was the first time I've lit a fire since before the mission! I forgot how cool sitting by a campfire really is. It was a tasty Korean style barbeque with the nicest family ever. Fluent in English, so that makes things that much more fun.
Elder Wharton's last day in Higashi Osaka with one of our
investigators.
Thursday was transfer day. It's always fun to talk to all the missionaries at transfer point. After a while, I said bye to Elder Wharton and picked up Elder Parkin. He is actually from Orem Utah! He moved there after he graduated though, so he doesn't know too much about Orem. He is originally from Santaquin. He is an awesome guy. He is 6th transfer, so I need to help him out with Japanese and some mission stuff. It will be a fun transfer.

Elder Parkin and I are really trying to get this area moving. Right now, we are working hard to get good relationships with the members as well as getting our investigator pool moving. We ran into a couple problems this past week with one of our investigators. He is actually our most progressing investigator at this point, but I get a text from him last night at around 6:30 saying "hey Elder Lamoreaux, do you have any food to give to me? I haven't eaten anything all day." Well, I stopped what I was doing and sat down and thought about what to do. He doesn't have a job and for the past little while, he has been mooching off some people because he just doesn't have money. I have ran into a lot of investigators who are in this same situation since I've been in Japan. It really makes me wonder how that happens. Well anyway, I called a few people asking what I should do with that, and we ended up telling him that we can't give him food. But, there is someone in the ward who can help him find a job. However, our investigator has to be the one to reach out and ask for help and be willing to act and work. So we communicated that to him. I also asked him to pray to Heavenly Father because he will give him the power he needs to overcome this big trial. I followed up with him later that night, asking if he prayed. He told me that he did and when he did, he felt something that basically said, "this will be solved some day, you don't need to worry." みたいな感じ。 People, the power of prayer is real and it brings needed comfort and blessings. We just need to be humble enough to let Heavenly Father take us where we need to go. If you are lost and you don't know what to do, pray. That's all there is to it. If there is one thing that I have learned on my mission, it is the importance of establishing a good relationship with your Heavenly Father through prayer and action. Something that I read in PMG recently that stuck out to me was this phrase: "The attitude you have toward your mission experience is a reflection of your love toward your Heavenly Father and His Son and your respect for the priesthood." (PMG pg. 151) That can apply not only to full time missionaries, but to everyone. The attitude you have towards life in general is a reflection of your love to Heavenly Father and His Son and your respect for the priesthood. You display that attitude through your actions, both publicly and privately. I am still trying to figure out how to pray more fervently and to have a better relationship with Heavenly Father. I invite you to analyze your relationship with Heavenly Father. Are your actions reflecting your love and gratitude towards them? I also invite you to pray with all your might to establish that relationship. I know that great blessings and peace of mind will come to you if you humbly do this.

Well, I hope that made sense. I kinda went on a rant at the end there. Anyways, I really hope you have a wonderful Christmas! Remember the reason for the season. My ponderizing scripture this week is Luke 2:10-14 "Fear not, for I bring you good tidings of great joy, For unto you is born his day, a Savior which is Christ the Lord." He was born so that we can live without fear. On this day, show the Savior your gratitude for him by serving those around you. Even small things bring a big difference. I love you all!

Merry Christmas to all!
メリークリスマス!!🎄🎌
Love,
Elder Lamoreaux ラムロー長老
Japan Kobe Mission 日本神戸伝道部

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