Three Months and Counting. . .

Yes. . . It is true. . .Three months and counting until Elder Raia comes home! Can you believe how quickly time has gone by???

We talked to him on Christmas day (the day after Christmas for him.) It was fun to talk to him! He has a little bit of an accent. :) He told us that the end of his last transfer will be on March 31st, and that around the 1st of April he will probably be on a flight home! We are so excited! He of course, has mixed feelings. While he misses us all, he feels like his time there has been so short. I'm sure it will be hard for him to leave all the people that he has grown to love there.

But for now its back to work for him.

Well. . .He can't work ALL the time!

Looks like he may be a mean ping pong player by the time he gets back!

We are all so excited to see him, hear all his stories, hear him speak Japanese, have him make us some tasty Japanese food, and see how fast he can eat with chopsticks. :) But for the next three months he still has a lot of work still to do!

Merry Christmas!

Elder Raia is doing well. . . Working hard and keeping busy. We can't believe his two years are winding down, and we are SO excited to talk to him on Christmas!!!!

I’m doing great! This week we had Zone conference and it was really good! We have the best missionaries in this zone! And we just talked to President this morning and were changing the mission a lot. Everything is going to a monthly bases rather than a 6 week bases. That means monthly splits, monthly zone conferences, and monthly interviews. I think it will really help our mission. Right now we are 17 baptisms a way from doubling last years baptisms and next year we want to do the same thing. 180 baptisms. So in order to do that, we need a change like this and all the missionaries need to step it up in all the phases of the work.

Some missionaries teach investigators just because they are told to. They teach them the message of the restoration because it’s in Preach my Gospel, which is a good thing, but not the best. Missionaries need to be teaching for the right purposes. They need to be teaching to the needs of their investigators. They need to be teaching because they want their investigators to come to Jesus Christ and to become happy. It sounds obvious but sometimes they become "robot missionaries".

I love this picture! Make sure you look closely to see his reflection! Ha Ha!

メリークリスマス, 楽しいクリスマスをお過ごし下さい, クリスマスに交わされる挨拶

(Merry Christmas!)

Prayers For Investigators

Elder Raia is doing great. . . working hard as always.

Their area just got two new senior couple missionaries. They are going to be starting up the Out Reach program in the area. It is a place for youth ages 18-29 to go hang out. "Its supposed to help members of that age stay active and to get less active members active again. Apparently Elder L. Tom Perry started this up when he was a mission president in Europe, its taking a lot of planning and support."

They are working with some investigators and would like us to pray for them. One sister is working on the word of wisdom and one brother is praying for an answer about if the Book of Mormon is true.

"This week I did something interesting in my scripture study. I read Joseph Smith history
and Mormon 9 at the same time. I would read 4-6 verses of one and then switch to
the other. I was really good because they are related in some sense and it made
me feel closer to the prophets that wrote the Book of Mormon and also to Joseph Smith who saw the "God of miracles". "

Here are some fun pics of Elder Raia. . . Enjoy

Just A Little Update

Here is a little update on Elder Raia,

"This week was good. We had zone conference on Wed. It was good. It was about planning and using our time wisely. . ."

One of their investigators came to church on Sunday. He is doing very good and has a baptismal date set for Nov. 14th.

He heard from the mission home about three investigators he was working with in Koriyama. They have baptismal dates set and are doing really good. He says, "I'm still upset that I cant be there, but I glad to be here in Kamisugi.

I found a really good scripture this week about obedience. Mosiah 5:13. (For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart) Its like, if we don't serve God and obey his commandment, then there is no way that we can know Him. We learn of Him as we follow Him. Its a way simply passage but it hit me pretty hard."

I just love it when he tells us about scriptures that have touched him. Here is a recent picture of Elder Raia.

New in Kamisugi

Elder Raia was transferred to Kamisugi (which I cant seem to find on the map) and he is ready to work! He is still the zone leader and his new companion's name is Elder Allred. Here is what he has to say:

"Hey everyone! I'm great. Kamisugi is really good. Its a HUGE area!! There are so many people here. Two days ago we had a baptism. It was really cool. Hes a pretty young kid. 24-25ish. There are some other recent converts here that are the same age. They're all way cool and want to go on missions. One has only been baptized for three week and he already wants us to help him learn the lessons. This area is really sweet but I'm still sad I left Koriyama. I felt like my time there was too short. But Ill do my best and try to help everyone here."

Keep up the great work Elder Raia. . . We're all praying for you!

Emergency Transfer

Elder Raia is keeping very busy as always. Last week two of their investigators were baptized. "It was a really spiritual baptismal service." Elder Raia says. They are working with a few other investigators who are coming to church, so he is really excited about that. He really enjoyed General Conference. . .actually he said General Conference was awesome! Same thing right? :)

Here is a snippet from his most recent e-mail, "Tomorrow I will be emergency transferred out of Koriyama. Apparently one of the Sister's investigators confessed to them that she's in love with me and so last night we called president and he pretty much told me that I'm gone. I'm pretty angry and sad about it. I love LOVE LOVE Koriyama!! I really don't want to leave."

We love you too Elder Raia! (not the same way she loves you of course!) Bummer that he has to leave Koriyama since he loves it so much and they are having lots of success! But the Lord knows whats best!

Quite An Experience...

Elder Raia sounds like he is doing great! His letters are always so up beat and positive! It is nice to know that he is working hard, learning and growing.

They have two baptisms scheduled for this coming Saturday and one for the following, and they are so excited about it!


Here is what Nick has to say:

"Everyone is doing soooo great! Also we had 6 investigators at church this last Sunday. We were so busy! But we taught a lesson to one of our new investigators he is truly prepared by the Lord. We were teaching him that when we are baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we start over. We’re clean through Jesus Christ’s atonement. When we asked him what he thought about it, he said one of the most profound answers I’ve ever heard. He said that he’s not a terrible person, and hasn’t done terrible things but he said he has done a lot of things in the past that he regrets and that he wish he wouldn’t have done. He said for a while that he’s had a wish or hope that he could "reset" his life. Just to start with a blank piece or paper without marks. Then he said if that’s what baptism is, then I would love to receive it. I felt the spirit in that lesson but it was different that I’ve felt it before. Sometimes in lessons I feel it very strongly testify of Jesus Christ or The Book of Mormon but this time it was a very quiet humbling feeling. I felt like this man has been searching for something but didn’t know how to find it. I realized how much I take this gospel for granted and how I don’t appreciate what I have very much. Then this morning, I was reading "Finding Joy in the Journey" by President Monson and he quotes a scripture from D&C that says something to the extent that a gift goes to waste if the receiver doesn’t accept it or if the receiver takes it but doesn’t thank the giver. It was quite an experience...


Like I told you before, we focused on "Our Purpose" at our last zone conference and it seems like everyone was really affected by it, in good ways and in bad ways. A lot of people remembered the importance of this work and their fire grew, and others realized that they became missionaries for the wrong reasons and kind of got depressed. Apparently it happened all over the mission and President has been trying to help a lot of people."
我々はあなた年上の Raia を愛します！

Elder Raia Needs A New Suit!

Here is the latest from Elder Raia. He sounds like he is doing good. He is keeping busy, sounds like he has his hands full being Zone Leader.

"On Monday we went to Sendai and had zone leader council. It was really good. This transfer we're focusing on our purpose as missionaries. I'm really glad were focusing on this. Its a pretty broad subject if you go through all of Preach My Gospel but on page 1 it explains it really well. 'My purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.' The Zone leader council was really spiritual! I really enjoyed it.

Last week I bought a new suit. It was around 8000 yen or 80 bucks I think. My old ones are falling apart pretty well"

He says things are pretty stressful. Their Mission President is making some changes, and it is his companions last transfer, so he is going home soon. But he did say that every Sunday 4 or 5 of their investigators have been coming to church, so that is great! He sounds a bit homesick, so I think he could use some prayers and some letters!

Prayers for Missionaries

Here is an update from Elder Raia on how he has been doing. It sounds like he can use our prayers.

"This last week was rough. Not sure why but no one seemed to listen to us. Our investigators are doing well. Ukawa San is really trying hard and The Lord is helping him. Please pray for him! I also got a call from president this morning and he told me that Mei Chan in Kitakami got baptized on Saturday! I was way excited when I heard that!"

"This week I read 2 Nephi 9 in the Book of Mormon and I gained a great appreciation for the Book of Mormon. In this one chapter alone it explains almost every problem that other Christian churches disagree over."

They have transfer calls next week, but he thinks he and his companion will both be staying in the area.

Back In A Big City!

Elder Raia is in a new area. He is now in Koriyama inside the Fukushima prefecture. He says “I love being in a big city again, and it feels good to be busy.” Koriyama is the most Yakuza (the biggest gang in Japan) infested city in all of Tohoku (northern Japan). But he says “But we’re safe, so don’t worry.”

He also became the Zone Leader in his area and he has a new companion Elder Broderick. As the Zone Leaders they have to plan Zone conference, train other missionaries, as well as lots of other responsibilities.

They are working with five investigators, and asks us to pray for them. Nick has really grown during his time serving the Lord and continues amaze us all. Here is a snippet from his last letter. “I started reading the book of Mormon again this week and one part that stuck out was in 1st Nephi 11:17 when Nephi says I know that God loves all his children, but I don’t know the meaning of all things. I’ve felt very much like Nephi recently. That I don’t know everything, but because I know that God love me and everyone else, I know enough. We’ve met a few people this week who have lost their jobs, families, homes, cars, everything because of the economic recession. Every time I would talk to them, I would feel the spirit tell me to tell them that they are a child of God and that He loves them.”

Miracles!

Elder Raia says, "We're doing great here in Kitakami! This last week was full of miracles and it ended with Minda San getting baptized on Sunday! It was such a cool experience!" Nick is so excited for her!

Nick is the District Leader, so he is supposed to teach and and work with the other Elders. Some have had a bad attitude, but he worked hard with them and they were able to find two new investigators. They taught them the first lesson and committed them both to baptism, as well as another couple that has been working with the missionaries for three years! Nick says "It was such a good week, but it was also the most stressful week of my mission. It really strengthened my testimony of the divinity of this work."

Yay for hard working missionaries and miracles!!!

The Most Delicious Things. . .

Elder Raia is doing well. . . He is working hard as always. Nick and his companion, Elder Funaki, are working with quite a few people who are investigating the Gospel. People in Japan are so busy that they often have a hard time meeting with their investigators regularly but they do so as often as they can. Elder Funaki and Elder Raia

Nick and his companion with their investigator Minda San and her son

The end of June they had Branch Conference, and they had a talent show. He said it was lots of fun! Nick played his guitar.

Nick got a package a few weeks back from his Mom and Dad, and it included lots of things, including some Tortillas. He thanked them for everything but said, "the tortillas are the most delicious things I've eaten in over a year!" Ha Ha! I just thought this was so funny! He loves getting some good ol' food from home!

Here are some random pictures that Nick sent over. The scenic pictures are just Beautiful!

Thanks for checking in to see how Nick is doing. . . Keep him in your prayers!

Cherry Blossoms

Nick sent us lots of pictures of Japanese Cherry Blossoms, which I'm sure everyone has heard of. They are beautiful! See how much Nick likes them?! :)

When they are in bloom they have a week which they call "Golden Week" with lots of festivities. Nick says that everything closes for Golden Week.