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.”