Do Do, Do Do ひかり

Here is a photo of the sushi I devoured prior to gaining another kilogram. Kidding, they are not all mine. One is Sister Takaku's.

Hello from Nihon, land of the rising sun and miracles!

This week we are just going to lay down some stories, because this week was fantastically packed with them!

We visited one of our new investigators. We taught her about the Atonement. She is still a little hesitant on the whole Mormon thing, but she felt something special about Jesus, that was a cool moment. Then, without me even thinking about that direction, Sister Takaku just lays down the baptismal invite! (internal me: 'what? *panic* ohmygolly yes go go Takaku Shimai go go! Whoo!') Investigator didn't say yes, but she didn't say no. So she's thinking about it. So awesome!

That night as we were walking home we were just trying to chat with the interesting assortment of folk walking around at 8:45 p.m. and found a woman who agreed to meet with us again!  This is bad, but sometimes you kind of get stuck in the rut of 'kekko desu' (no thank you) and forget what to do after they say yes! You're like Ah! Where is planner what is Japanese do I have a phone number konnichiwa where is our church building what year is it?! But that moment is very excited and full of much hope. 

The next day we found this adorable young couple who said they would also meet with us! Man we were on investigator-finding fire! (as far as Japan goes).  But they had so much interest in our message and were like yeah sounds so great! So we prepared for them a marvelously thorough church tour and well-rehearsed Lesson of the Restoration for our appointment for which they did not show up and later blocked our phone number. HoOrAy!

*Sighs and moves onward via bicycle*

On Wednesday we had an Okonomiyaki/Takoyaki party with Sister Yamada and her friends! That was so delicious and Japanese!

Friday we stopped by the middle of the Stake Youth Conference. What a great time! I was surprised to discovered it pretty much looked exactly like a Youth Conference in Utah, except everyone was Japanese and they were having curry on rice instead of hot dogs. Our youth are so cool! And Sister Takaku got to see her convert from another ward, such a sweet moment. 

On Saturday we had a stake volleyball activity! That was so fun and embarrassing! *flashes back to high school days of attempting to participate in P.E.*

Earlier that day there was a Relief Society potluck, which is extremely delicious in Japan, just a warning. Sister Nukui brought one of her friends.  She said she really liked the environment of the church. Therefore, we invited her to come Sunday and she said YES! 

She came to church and during combined meeting we taught her the first lesson, and before we could get ten minutes in, she asked if she could be baptized. I shall repeat for our audience at home. She ASKED if she could be baptized into our church. While attempting to calmly mop up our hearts after they exploded with joy, we taught her the rest of the lesson. 

My darling associates, I testify that hard things are for learning from and answers come from prayers. Heavenly Father loves us.

Love,

Sister Brewer

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I Am Still In Japan よろこび

I was going to post the picture of us at this lunch, but Toshi kun was was cuter.

Hi!  Our new investigator is still super nice! She is very busy with her business but we have another appointment for her tomorrow and I am so excited. If we could just get work not to exist and get every one to come to church we could really make some awesome progress, so this week we're working hard towards that! We also found three NEW investigators this week! Wha-hoo, are prayers answered or what?

I am still with my wonderful companion, we are learning a lot together!  

I am beyond happy, full of joy for being here.  Yesterday Elder Nelson spoke at Stake Conference in Tokyo and then we got to hear the devotional he gave in the evening. He and his wife shared some really simple, enlightening council. Sister Nelson talked about covenants and how making and keeping them should govern all our decisions and actions. She gave me a great perspective. I love the temple, I will very excited to return there. Among other things, Elder Nelson taught that a missionary's only desire is to make the lives of people better. It was a great wake up call to make sure that really is where all my desire is, and to show it every day through action. He reiterated that every member is a missionary. Subsequently, he prayed that as members we would:

• Feast upon the words of Christ daily
• Apply the words of Christ daily
• Establish consistent love at home
• Maintain our health
• Be examples of the believers
• Focus on the temple

Love you, love to hear what you are learning about, love this work!

Keep those smiles on, fellow beings.

Sister Brewer

Let's Learn a Word In Japanese

きょかい (key-yo-kai): Church

Bonus: まつじつせいといえすきりすときょかい　(Matsujitsu seito Iesu Kiriusuto Kyokai)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

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It's like the Pumpkin Spice Rage, but...Japan

Because Starbucks is where you should find missionaries. 

We just had to try the six-dollar Sakura milkshake, you know?

This week we gained a NEW INVESTIGATOR! Hooray! I am so happy. She is an older woman who we met in the train station. She let us come over and teach the first lesson on Friday, and we were able to invite her daughter to listen as well! They had a lot of good questions about the apostasy and were intrigued by the Restoration. They committed to read the introduction of the Book of Mormon and pray to Heavenly Father. She even said, it was lucky fate that we met. This is a truly a miracle! I know Heavenly Father blessed us to be able to meet her. I am so excited to continue teaching her. I hope I can bring the spirit every time. 
Bishop Tsujioka has been doing a great job motivating the ward to do more missionary work. He has made sure everyone has a copy of "The Power of Everyday Missionaries" in their native language (Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, English...) and challenged everyone to read it. In Relief Society the President asked everyone to write down a date and time when they are available so she can make a "Member Dendo Calender" for us as a resource. We are truly blessed here in Okazaki with wonderful members. We will improve our efforts together. 
You heard it in Sunday School, Sacrament Meeting, Facebook, General Conference and every missionary e-mail ever. Missionary work is imperative and absolutely full of joy! I testify of the truthfulness of this and highly recommend the experience to all. Miracles truly come when we act consistently in faith. In Heavenly Father's timing, of course!

Love you, kind blog reader. Smile all week long! If you have any questions, ask them to me please!

Sincerely,

Sister Brooklyn Brewer

Japanese!

さくら: Sakura

Those beautiful pink cherry blossoms you associate with Japan. They are beginning to sneaklily peak in nature and bombard everything that can be flavored. Cool pictures will happen soon! 

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Golden Needle in a Rice Field

This is the city of Meito! I went on an exchange there, it was a lot of fun!

So, not to be unoriginal, but this week in the wondorous world of the Japan Nagoya Mission: Okazaki we tried really hard to find some new investigators and spent a lot of time looking and asking and inviting and everyone said no! Hooray!

However, this is how we learn patience and how to be better servants of the Lord! 

Let's share a quotation I love from General Conference!

"One woman, each time she related experiences she had during a visit to the Holy Land, would exclaim, "I walked where Jesus walked!"

She had been in the vicinity where Jesus lived and taught. Perhaps she stood on a rock on which He had once stood or looked at a mountain range He had once gazed upon. The experiences, in and of themselves, were thrilling to her; but physically walking where Jesus walked is less important than walking as He walked. Emulating His actions and following His example are far more important than trying to retrace the remnants of the trails He traversed in mortality."

-President Thomas S. Monson, October 2014 Read this talk right here it is so good!

I testify that as we get to know Jesus and "line upon line" work to become like Him, we will be blessed with growth, stegnth and joy.

Honestly! I love you.

Sister Brewer. 

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