Minasan Konnichiwa!
We arrived home and there was a package. It was for Padelsky Shimai. Inside the package was a book that has already changed my mission. (I am so happy I found it now, rather than later). It talks about the importance of not only being obedient, but using great missionary skills.
I can honestly say that I have not had a bad day on my mission. My companion was a little sick this week, so we have been in the house most of the past couple days, but I have not had a bad day. This past week was a little rough because we invited an investigator to be baptized and she said no. After reading the book we found some great ideas to re-ask the baptismal commitment. I always have to remind myself not to let the language get in the way of teaching people, not lessons. In this book it has a great way of putting the purpose of Baptism. It just got my companion and I so excited to hit the streets of Japan!
We also had Zone Conference this week. I was the pianist. Not to brag, I am just saying this so Grandpa Grant knows that I am putting my talents to use! It was so fun to sing Hark All Ye Nations with a room full of Missionaries!
Sorry this letter is a little scatter brained, so jump back in time to the MTC. Elder Bednard from the Quorum of the 12 came and spoke to us. He told us why missionaries are called to missions. He said there was 3 main reasons. 1. The missionary needs to have that mission president. 2. The missionary needs to touch someones life in that mission. 3. The reason is not yet known. Or it can be a combination of the 3.
Jump forward. So at Zone Conference, I kept on thinking how President Wada and Sister Wada are so awesome and that they are one of the reasons why I was called to Japan. President Wada always reminds us missionaries that we are called to give people options. Give them choices. Every time we meet someone on the street we give them the choice to come to church or not to come. As they make these choices in life they can come closer to our savior Jesus Christ. This is God’s work and I am just an instrument in his hands.
This week has been great, very humbling and I like to think of it as productive. Today while I was doing some weekly cleaning I was scrubbing the bathtub. (Our P-days have been so busy so I haven’t had a chance to do it). I’m kind of embarrassed to tell this story… Anyways, our apartment is really old. Like before the Sisters lived here Elders lived here for years. It is pretty gross. So I was just hard core scrubbing the shower and bathtub. I was thinking of the Power of the Atonement. No person has done something so terrible outside of the power of the Atonement. God still loves all of us. The thing that keeps us away from him is sin. As we work hard and scrub away the wrong doings we are forgiven. That is the beauty of the gospel.
As missionaries we teach three lessons. The restoration, The Plan of Happiness, and the Gospel of Christ. The first lesson, is a lesson about Faith. God lives and he loves us. The second lesson is a lesson of Hope. If we obey his commandments we can live again with him. Lesson three is about Charity. God’s love for us. God loves us so he gave his only Begotten Son. Through the power of the Atonement and through entering the waters of Baptism we can be made clean again. The Atonement is not only for the people who are sinners, but it is also for the people that are trying to become saints. I know that every day I am working hard to become a better missionary. Missions are hard. You start to see all your faults, but you know that God still loves you. I know that God lives. That Joseph Smith saw God the Father and the Son. The gospel is restored on this earth and we have much cause to rejoice!
Have a great week everyone! Stay righteous my friends.
Ai Shite Imasu
Sister Hokanson
Japan Tokyo South Mission
Sister Hokanson in Japan 