Dear Family,
It was another crazy week here! We spent two days in Kobe and two in Tokushima, so we had to fit everything in our week into just three days!! The Lord blessed us in those three days and make wonderful things happen in Niihama!!
Yesterday was perhaps one of the most wonderful days of my mission. When Sister Heimuli and I first became companions, we identified three part member families who we wanted to focus on. With a music fireside yesterday, we were able to help all three of them.
First: the Fukuda family. The father is less active and his wife and 6 year old son are not members. He loves the violin, and after asking around for a violin I could use for the music fireside, he was the last resource. Thankfully, on Friday night, we were able to pick up the violin, and then they came to the music fireside yesterday!! He sat there with a huge smile on his face the whole time and his video camera out. Afterward, he was talking to our branch president for almost an hour about all the hobbies they have in common. His wife belongs in the church too. She is so helpful and bright. And everybody loved their goofy little son! It would be nice to have a primary in Niihama!
The next family: Kawamura. Sister Kawamura is the only active member. Her husband is not a member and one of her daughters is less active, the rest are not members. Because I had a violin on Saturday, we decided to visit them and perform. Two of the daughters and her husband and grandchildren all ended up being home, and they loved having us visit!! I played a couple pieces, Sister Heimuli hula danced, then we sang/played a hymn and shared a message and prayed together. The daughters BEGGED us to please come back and visit, and they set up a return appointment for us! The next day a daughter and the grandchildren all came to the church for the fireside.
Third family: the wonderful Ashitani family! The missionaries have been working with this family for a while. Yesterday, Brother and Sister Ashitani walked into the church for the first time in over 20 years. Along with them came their daughter Yumiko and her husband and children and their daughter Naomi with two of her nonmember friends. They were all in tears during the whole fireside. Afterward, Brother Ashitani family told us that something about me and Sister Heimuli makes God's presence real.
All three families had a great time with the branch members and it was SO wonderful to see the church full of happy people! :) In addition to that we had an investigator bring her friend to church and the branch president brought one of his students to church for us to teach them. And I gave a talk in sacrament meeting and the people before me were so short that I had 20 minutes to speak! In Japanese! It was such a CRAZY CRAZY day and week. It reminded me a lot of what Elder Ringwood said about exhaustion and exhilaration. I have never felt so tired at night, but at the same time, I have never been so excited to get up the next day and work again!
Yesterday caused me to think a lot about gifts. At the beginning of this transfer I set a goal to study about, pray about, and develop and use gifts from the Savior. I realized that Sister Heimuli and I were both blessed with certain gifts, including the gift of music, that have blessed the people in Niihama in incredible ways. As I have studied and thought about it and worked with other missionaries and members, I have learned how true it is that we ALL have been given gifts from Christ, and the Lord places us right where we need to be to use those gifts and help His work progress. It makes me so humbled and grateful to be placed here at this time. I LOVE the work of a missionary and I LOVE the people living around me. More than anything, I LOVE the Savior and I am grateful to be serving Him!!
Also, dear wonderful family, I LOVE you to pieces!! Ha I watched the video Jason sent of Joseph blowing out birthday candles. Hearing all of your laughs made me realize yet again how happy you all make me! Thanks for your support and prayers!!
Love,
Sister Crofts
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