I said goodbye to my two wonderful companions yesterday and what an interesting week last week was. Watching them as they said goodbye to everyone and pack everything for returning home. It was a weird feeling. Even more weird now as I think about them being home now and being on their way home. Just totally crazy. Anyway I LOVE my new companion. Guess who it is? Sister Vail!! I don't know if you remember me talking about her when I was in the MTC or not but she was in the MTC with me and left for Japan about a month before I came to Japan. She is an Angel and I love being with her already. It is interesting to go to just one companion after being with two for the last 6 weeks but I am looking forward to being with her and the work we will do together. And I am also excited to learn from her. :D
So this last week, like I said has just been interesting as we visited people so the others could say their goodbyes so we weren't able to teach a whole lot but we were able to teach the Yamazaki family on Saturday night and Sunday. Yamazaki kyoudai has really progressed during the last 6 weeks. He is praying a lot more and is blazing through the Book of Mormon. On Saturday night we went to their house for dinner and after dinner we watched The Testaments (which I love it in Japanese!!). After the movie we talked about it and had a great discussion. The spirit was felt so strongly and both Yamazaki kyoudai and shimai were able to relate to Jacob and they were honest with their feelings. Yamazaki kyoudai said that he doesn't really know if there is a God but because of the members in the ward he knows that Christ came to earth and set an example. He probably just doesn't understand his relationship with the Savior right now. We asked him he would pray whether to know if Christ lives and if there is a God and he said that he would. After the lesson when we returned to the apartment and were going over the lesson we all realized that we had feelings during the lesson that we should invite him to be baptized but none of us did. We were planning on doing that on Sunday. We all felt terrible and we decided that on Sunday we prayed and fasted for an opportunity to invite him again and that his heart would be softened and will have the desire to be baptized. I also realized that is something that I want to work on. Sometimes I hold back saying something or extending a commitment because I fear what my companion would do, say or think. I need to stop that and rely more on the spirit and trust in its guidance.
Anyway, on Sunday we met with the Yamazakis during Sunday school and taught about the plan of Salvation and focused on repentance and baptism. And the craziest thing happened that had us all in shock during sacrament meeting. Sister Edostrom was talking about baptism and was getting to the point that she would invite him to set a date and the spirit was strong in the room when a brother walked in and told us that sacrament meeting was starting (those two were going to be speaking for a few minutes) we said ok and he closed the door and we tried to wrap up but didn't really know how after being interrupted. But then the same brother opened the door and this time to remind that I was the one to say the opening prayer which was to be soon. So we all grabbed our stuff and rushed down the stairs only to find out that the prayer was already said and the sacrament hymn was being sung. Like I said before we all just sat down in shock. I had emotions that I can't clearly identify and which made me cry. I still don't know what feelings I had. It was just so bizarre. After Sacrament meeting we grabbed them and went to try and finish the lesson and tried to get that same spirit back. We asked Yamazaki kyoudai what he thought about baptism and he said it is hard because the word of wisdom is hard but that he will try his best to follow it. When we asked him if we could make a date as a goal to work towards he said no because he would feel too much pressure. It was such a let down. I feel like if we extended the commitment to him the night before at his house we would have accepted. This family is so cute and wonderful and I desperately want him to be baptized. Even President Budge knows them and loves them is always asking about them and wanting to see him baptized. Please say just a little prayer for this family. They have become very special to me and I love them so much. And I am praying that Vail shimai and I will have success together in getting a date for him. I am so glad to be here and serving the Lord in Japan. I feel so blessed and lucky and I am doing my best to live everyday in the moment and to find joy in every footstep. This time is short and before I know it I will be home. I love you all with all my heart but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I know that the Lord has His watchful eye over every single one of you and I feel so much peace from that.
