This last week was pretty fun and pretty full of miracles. So first some background on one our investigators. Brother Usa has been and investigator since last fall and last month before this transfer started (when I was till with the other sisters) he had a baptism date and had all the lessons. He just needed the interview and to come to church again but because of things that came up he wasn't baptized and so we have still just continued meeting with him. Anyway, Usa, e-mailed us last Tuesday telling us that he finished reading First Nephi and that when he finished it he teared up and it made him want to do better at reading and will do his best to finish it. We were really happy and e-mailed how happy we were for him. We also asked him if he has prayed about when he should be baptized. That was a committment for the week before because at that point he said maybe August or Septemeber when work slows down. But when we e-mailed him asking him if he has prayed he said that he has and feels like he should be baptized this month or next month but still didn't know what day. We were so excited. We immediatly asked him if we could meet with him during the week. He said he would check his schedule and let us know. He then told us later that he was free on Thursday night. We called a member to be a joint with us and we had a lesson with him. We went over the baptism questions and he passed. So we asked him again about a baptism date. He told us that he would like to be baptized sooner rather then later then said that he could do it the next sunday which was yesterday and in 3 days from that time. Sister Vail and I were in shock. We called the Bishop and Ward mission leader to check it off with them then called the District Leader to check to see if he had time on Saturday night to do the interview. And by a sweet tender mercy from the Lord he did so he was able to come and do the interview. There was one more concern that we had and that was his mother. Since he is 19 he needed permission from his mother and we needed her signiture. The ward mission learder and his wife planed to take him home on Saturday night and then talk to his mom and get her permission but she wasn't home when he got dropped off but Usa said that he would talk to her. And he ended up e-mailing the ward mission leader saying that she signed. Saturday was really such a wonderful tender mercy from the Lord becasue we were able to plan the WHOLE baptism that day (on Friday we had Presdent Interviews and district meeting two hours away by train). And then on Sunday after church ended I was finally able to see Brother Usa be baptized and start his journey home. The spirit that was there was such a wonderful spirit. i started crying thinking of this brother of mine come closer to Christ and I could see the future for him. Going on a mission, going to the Temple, be sealed there. The blessings just opened up in my mind and made me really see once again what I am doing here. Brother Usa had such a wonderful smile on his face (which is something because he usually never smiles). You can feel the change in him. He has more confidence and feels more peace. He is such a wonderful young man and I feel so very blessed to have witnessed his baptism and take apart in his life. What an AMAZING miracle that I witnessed.
We also met and became friends with some really funny grandmothers that almost act like teenagers. Wednesday we met with two of them to teach them English (they are very good at English) and then one of them invited us to her house on Thursday to learn how to make homemade Soba (hence the pic of the towel on my head). It was soooo much fun.And I absalutly adore these ladies. They are soo cute and very active. They do arobics together and volunteet and have a wide range of activities. It was really fun. Especially when they were talking about their latin class and how much they love latin dancing and their latin teacher (who I guess is a very interesting person ;) very fit). It was a blast.
My interview with the President went well. I love President Budge. He is so funny and so very wise. He helped me to see my circle of influence and not to focus on my circle of concern. He also helped me understand more about being humble. I suffer from extreme pride. What kind of pride, down pride. Meaning instead of being happy when I see my weaknesses and challenges and becoming humble and relying on the Lord I become depressed and feel inadaquette which means pride, because my pride is being injured. I have kinda been learning about this during my mission but during the interview it all clicked. President Budge also told me that being humble is the stress buster. Pride means stress. I have been feeling very stressed and depressed lately realizing all the things that i need to change and work on. I want to become humble. I want to remember more where I come from and what kind of Father is watching over me. I don't want to rely on myself because I know that I can't do things alone. And doing things by myself is very lonely. So that is my goal for the rest of my mission and really for the rest of eternity.
1. To Remember where I come from
2. Remember the Father and the Savior
3. always be humble I shall do my best.
That is all of the fun news for this week. I will say that I love my bike. It is great besides being extemely squeaky when I brake but I am not going to complain. It was a wonderful tender mercy. I LOVE this area and the people we are teaching and the members we are working with. I don't want to be bias but I think I will say very quietly that Utusunomiya is my favorite area I have worked in. I LOVE it here!! I hope praying that I can stay here for anther transfer. After this transfer we have 12 sisters coming in and only 18 senior missionaries. So a lot of us will be training. And if not this transfer then next for sure. I am praying that I will still be here and that I can still be with Sister Vail. Because she is awesome.
I love you family and I am so grateful for you!
