*restarts mission*

After seven months in my beloved Okazaki and I transferring to NAGANO! Transferring requires a lot of...to do list items I didn't know about, so sorry for the short post. But smile all day long and be missionaries!

Please read: 1 Nephi 11:17, Book of Mormon

Love,

Sister Brewer

Some of my Okazaki Favorites.

Questions and Answers しつもんです

For the report today, here are some questions I have received from a lot of people!

And my that I mean...questions I was asked by myself and faithful letter-writing uncle.

What does your teaching pool look like? 

Currently our teaching pool is eight women we found by a wide variety of means: Housing, talking to them in parking lots, member referrals, back of the area book, and the occasional self-referral miracle. We are very blessed with investigators! Teaching is my very favorite part of missionary work. Here you get to see children of God realize that is what they are, and that is so beautiful! A few of them are what's called 30/30 investigators, meaning we teach them English for thirty minutes and a gospel lesson for the latter thirty. Depending on your definition of progress, typically investigators progress very slowly; there are willing to listen to what you have to say and sometimes even read the Book of Mormon. But, they will develop interest, ask questions, and keep commitments at their own pace, usually after a few month or years of being an investigator. I learn a lot from the people we teach. I have learned that each child of God truly has the light of Christ in them. They go about doing good and can recognize the spirit in their lives, because they feel it when they serve others, care for their family, decide not to go graffiti the junior high school with their friends, etcetra. 

 

What is typical for the number of people you work with at any given time? 

Well...our ward has about 600 members, 140 of which are active. And eight investigators. But people are usually not home when we visit. We teach about 13 lessons per week.

I have heard a great deal about people in Asia's desire to save face and make appointments and then not be there when the missionaries show up ( have you seen this?).

I actually have not seen this very much. A lot of people told me this
before my mission, but Japanese people are some of the most honest I
know. They will tell us rather simply if they have interest or not. I
have only been stood up three or so times.

What is the purpose of life?
The purpose of life is to fulfill our joyful potential given to us by
our Father in Heaven. We do that by learning of and following the
example of His son, Jesus Christ.

Love you all!
Sister Brewer

Lights Up! 一かいだけ泣きました

Hello! So, serving in Okazaki and Kariya feels like playing two roles in a musical. In Scenes Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Act One I play the part of senior companion in Okazaki, trying to do things right and pretend I know how. In Kariya Act Two of Wednesday, Thursday, Friday I plan the part of beanchan trying to meet all these new people with the same names as everyone in Okazaki. Loving not having to read the map but feeling like I didn't read the script. Then the weekends where we may or may not go back and forth here times. Sometimes I cant even remember what costume to wear. But Heavenly Father the director and Jesus Christ our leading star pull it all together and make up for my weak notes and forgotten lines for a great show. We most certainly have a LOT of magic to do here in Japan. I love it! 

 I am enjoying many fun drinks in Japan: melon cream soda, salt and fruit kirin juice, and mostly water. Japanese people dont drink water. Only me; so confusing. Happy spiritual moment of the week:

We visited a sweet less active member in Kariya. She is only 19 but her parents and brother have passed away. She has definitely been through a lot of suffering and still is. I was very humbled to meet her, as she was cheerful and welcomed us into her home. I felt the the spirit testify how much Jesus Christ loves her. Jesus Christ loves her, and as His representative we need to show that love to her. I love her. I love my companions and each ward member and the investigators we are graced with and each child of God we meet on the street. I am eternally grateful for the missionary experience. It has changed me and I pray it continues to change me so I can do the work the Lord needs me too here and through my whole life. 

Receiving letters is awesome so tell me about something rad or crazy that happened to you recently. 

Be happy, be safe, be missionaries!

I looove you!

Sister Brewer