Week 6 T3 :: this is HIS work
This week, stuff, A LOT. Here's a summary for those who don't want to read a lot:
-Went to Seto on Tuesday for koukans (exchanges)
-Almost died of heat stroke everyday this week
-Went to Toyota on Friday for district meeting
-Took the wrong train home and accidentally left our area
-Got transfer calls Saturday morning - I'm going to Nagoya zone, Gokiso!?
-Cecilia got baptized on Sunday
-Packing up!
I can't tell if weather changes are just extreme to a missionary, or if Japan just has an extreme environment, or maybe I'm just being dramatic. Hot is an understatement, mosquitoes are out during mid-day and most people here don't have central air. I kinda want to accidentally fall into a rice field.
I feel like I just got here haha, the day we took the wrong train we actually went into the new area I'm transferring to. Coincidence? I think not. I'm a little sad to be leaving so soon, but I know that this is the Lord's work and his timing. Tasker Shimai is amazing, she’s had a baptism every transfer she’s been here, and this transfer we had two! She's taught me a lot, and I had a really great time here in this ward. I'm really excited to be with this new companion, I met her a couple times before and she was my trainers MTC comp. I’m excited for what the Lord has in store for us.
Cecilia took the first step towards starting her new life♡ She is the definition of prepared, ever since the first day we met her she's been prepared. This truly is this Lords work, I don't even feel like we did anything, the Lord has been preparing her for a long time. Originally her daughter told us she couldn't come to the baptism, but at the last minute she came. This day was the day her mother passed away some years ago, she said she felt her mother's spirit. We had some referrals who came to church on this same day and they happened to be Filipina as well! They were crying during the whole service, the spirit was so strong. Her testimony was powerful, she was glowing! This past week she kept saying how excited she was to start her new life.
It was really such an honor to have been with her on this special day. We got to stand on the side of the font, and wrap her in a towel as soon as she walked out. We asked her how she felt and she just looked up at us and said she felt so much happiness! In that very moment I felt so much love in my heart, I can't even describe it.
The night before we went over to her house and brought one of the ward members with us. We just chatted, drank some cold mugicha, didn't need to teach her anything, just helping her feel excited and comfortable for the next morning. We read Moroni 6 together, and eventually we got to a point and I felt prompted to ask her why she's getting baptized. Her response was 1. She wants to serve God and follow him, she’s been busy with work and haven't been making time for him in her life so she decided now is the time. He's given her so much, so many miracles in her life, this is what she feels she needs to do. 2. She values her family. She's a single mother of her only daughter, and her daughter means the world to her. She wants to be with her forever and said, "It's not good for the mamma to have different religion than the child". She's not wrong haha. In 1 year from now they can be sealed to each other in the House of the Lord for time and all eternity! :,)
So many miracles have lead up to this point, it reminded me of a talk from general conference;
"Striking the match and lighting the kindling are small actions that enable the potential energy of the wood to be released. Until the match is struck, nothing happens, regardless of the size of the woodpile. If the match is struck but not applied to the kindling, the amount of light and heat released from the match alone is minuscule and the combustion energy in the wood remains unreleased. If oxygen is not supplied at any point, the combustion reaction stops.
In a similar way, most blessings that God desires to give us require action on our part—action based on our faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in the Savior is a principle of action and of power. First we act in faith; then the power comes—according to God’s will and timing. The sequence is crucial. The required action, though, is always tiny when compared to the blessings we ultimately receive."
-Dale G. Renlund 'Abound with blessings' April 2019
I believe this "bonfire" (miracles) we have experienced, all trace back to one night approximately three weeks ago when we decided to "strike our match". This was the night we were laying in our futons and both received revelation that we should fast for the upcoming "Golden week". Slowly kindling caught flames, there were some times we weren't sure the logs would catch fire, but sure enough they did. I testify that this how the Lord works. According to his timing and will, this sequence is so crucial. I testify that the Lord's hand is in this work, this is HIS work. He is there and listens to our prayers.
いつも愛しています Love always,
堀人姉妹 ♡ Horito Shimai🇯🇵
Sister Michaela Horito
Japan Nagoya Mission
1-304 Itakadai,
Meitou-ku
Nagoya-shi, Aichi
465-0028
Japan
-CECILIA'S BIG DAY
- me in my natural habitat 🌹
- friends I'm gonna miss :,(💔
