7/15/12

Dear Family,

Well, here it is. The last report! I can`t believe how quickly this past week had gone by...but I honestly couldn`t be happier! Not for the fact of leaving, I`m way torn about that, but for the fact that I was really able to fall in love with the people here in Japan. I love the members, investigators, missionaries and converts so much! It`s hard to imagine that I`ll be leaving them. They`ve really become a part of me, like another branch of my family, you know? I`m also happy that I feel like I was able to accomplish what the Lord desired me to out here. Granted, I`m sure there are many things I could`ve done better but I`ve got no regrets. I feel good saying that I was able to do everything for my two years out here!

I don`t know how to really explain it...I know my mission is coming to an end but it still hasn`t fully hit me yet. I feel like I should be doing this forever, you know? But I am so grateful for everything that I was able to experience on my mission. I`m so grateful for all my brothers and sisters that I was able to come to know. I`m grateful for the testimony that I was able to develop of Jesus Christ and His atonement. I`m grateful for the Restoration of the gospel and the knowledge of the plan of salvation that we have. All the experiences I`ve had really has meant the world to me! While I was preparing my final testimony this past Sunday, it hit me how much the Lord had truly blessed me throughout my mission. I was looking back in my journal and I realized that I had never felt so much pain and heartache than on my mission...but not a single experience has been or probably ever will be more rewarding! I love my mission so much that I don`t think I`ll ever be able to express its fullness in words.

Well, I`ll see you guys in a few days anyways. I`ll tell you all the juicy details about my mission later. When are we going to Nagoya by the way? There`s some business that I need to finish back in Kobe so I may need some time.

Thanks for everything you guys. I really love you so much! I could`ve never made it throughout my mission without your love and support! Mom and Dad, thanks for all the sacrifices you made so I could be out here in Japan spreading the good word that brought our family happiness. I was really able to understand the importance of what I`ve always been blessed to have in my life, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Selena, can`t wait to see you big sis!!! I missed you a bunch. As for all my friends, I love ya and can`t wait to see all of ya again!

Here`s a last scripture I wanna share with you guys. It`s the scripture I fell in love with before I left on my mission. Alma 29:9. This is truly my glory, this is my joy.

Love ya,

Elder Saito

7/8/12

Hello Family,

Ugh, well I swear the weeks are starting to go by just faster and faster...I can`t keep up! It still hasn`t fully hit me that everything will be over in less than two weeks. Like, I don`t know how to explain it. It just feels like I`m going to be just transferring to a new area, you know? Nothing new. Goodness...I don`t wanna go home! It`s like, I don`t know anything else other than the mission and I can`t imagine doing anything else. But at the same time, I`m stoked for what`s behind this new door, you know? I don`t know how to explain myself. It was way sad this week because it was my last Zone Leader Council I would ever participate in. I`ve been going to those for the last year and a half and I`ve seen many great missionaries bear their dying testimonies...but I never thought that my day would ever come. It felt so unreal to me standing up and bearing my testimony. But it was a great experience because there were many young missionaries that I had chances to work with on my mission like my son, Elder Lythgoe. It`s crazy to think that I was training him just about a year ago...and now he`s a zone leader, working in my bean area. Life comes at you fast! I guess this is how it feels to be a dad and see your kids grow up, eh? Oh the mission, the perfect life prep.

 

Ah, I`m gonna be so sad having to say goodbye to all of the members here. This is the branch where I felt most comfortable and at home in so its gonna be a tuff having to leave. I swear, I would live in Toyooka just for the members if I could.

Well, I`m half worried about what`s gonna happen this week. My mind feels like its been thrown in a blender...but I`m going to continue working my hardest for my last week out here in the field. I was pondering and praying about what I wanted to accomplish with my last weeks of my mission and I remembered something that was written in my patriarchal blessing. It stated that I would be lead to the doors of those who have been praying for me to come...granted, that door could be a figurative door, but I still feel like I haven`t been accomplish that just yet. My goal for the rest of my time here is to find a family through housing and see their baptismal picture up a few months from now! haha

Anyways, I`m gonna go now. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! I`ll be sure to do my best for the last few days so I can leave saying that I gave everything for the people of Japan!

Mucho Love,

Elder Saito

 

7/1/12

Hey beloved family!

Well, it`s July...crazy huh? I honestly don`t have too much time to write because we need to hop on a bus to Kobe in a few hours to go and play. So, lo siento...but it`s aight, I`ll be seeing you in like three weeks anyways. I need to enjoy my time that`s left here in Japan, who knows when I can ever comeback here?

Just want to tell you that I am happier than ever! It`s been a great week over here, just keeping the work moving forward while strengthening our beloved new converts. Got a few brothers lined up to receive the priesthood and start serving the branch. I also don`t think there is anything better in the world than having a good talk with your thirteen yr old convert about her dreams and her future. Yeah, we had another one of those after church again, haha. It`s amazing cause she`s thinking of going to college, serving a mission and getting married in the temple! It`s a pretty big step forward for her especially because she wasn`t even going to school five months ago. She even started to dendo her family! The gospel has the power to change people`s lives for the better and it provides rays of hope that help people move forward. I can`t even wait to see what to happens to her five, ten years later!

Sorry for the short email. The package came by the way, I was way surprised that you sent all of that! Thanks so much though! I`ll be sure to give them all to the members in due time.

I love you guys! The Lord lives and the work is going to continue to move forward. I`m way sad that I`ll never be able to experience this chapter in my life again, but I have no regrets. I love my mission, but I`m also very excited for the next chapter that I`ll be writing in due time.

Mucho Amor,

Elder Saito

6/24/12

Hey family,

Oh my goodness! What the garbage happened to June? I almost fell out of my chair during our planning meeting this past week when I realized that next Sunday is already going to be July! Ah, President Zinke was right. He told me in my last interview that these last months will fly past like a whirlwind...and he was right. It still hasn`t fully dawned on me that I`ll be going home in less than a month. The mission office had already sent me a bunch of materials and things I need to do before I go home but I`ve haven`t really looked over it yet. I probably should some time soon...eventually.

Yeah, so for the gifts for the members...sorry for not telling you how many was needed. Lo siento! But if you could be a sweetheart and send the package to Hyogo-ken Toyooka-shi Yamamoto 210-7 (兵庫県豊岡市山本２１０－７)　that would be much appreciated. My goodness, I love the members here so much. I swear the only thing that kept me alive in Toyooka where the members and their kids. I love those kids from the bottom of my heart! I can`t really imagine leaving Toyooka and the members, I mean, they`ve become my family!

So, we had an amazing experience this past Sunday. We had district conference over in Nishiwaki so us, an investigator and a bunch of members jumped onto a big van and drove all the way over there! Well, that wasn`t the amazing experience by the way. So, at district conference there was a special fireside about missionary work and we watched a DVD that the Tokyo mission released about member-missionary work. There was one experience of a member who referred her friend from middle school and shared her experience of her friend`s conversion process. It was great because the situation was just like Haru-chan (little girl who referred her friend) and Misa-chan`s experience. First, Haru-chan just casually invited Misa-chan to church, then they started listening to the missionary lessons with each other which eventually lead to her conversion. Isn`t it just amazing to think about the greatness of the work? I mean think about it, it all started out with Haru-chan just inviting her friend to church. That small act of love produced a soul that has potential of returning to Heavenly Father`s presence! But its just not Misa-chan who is effected, this small act of love will now bless Misa-chan and her family for all eternity! Amazing right? I have a firm testimony that by small and seemingly insignificant things produce big changes in somebody`s life. And it was so amazing at the end because after the video, both Haru-chan and Misa-chan bore their simple testimonies in front of every and it was so spiritual. Misa-chan shared her experiences of her conversion and I was just on the verge of bursting out in tears. I love missionary work!

I`m so grateful for the opportunity to serve as a missionary. I would`ve never had these experiences or understood the goodness that comes out of the gospel if I wouldn`t have gone on my mission. I think the greatest joy in a missionary`s life is when his 13 yr old convert tells him that she wants to serve a mission and get married in the temple! My heart almost melted at that moment with joy! Thank you so much for letting me serve a mission and always supporting me Mom and Dad! I know that I would`ve never experienced any of this if it wasn`t for your sacrifice and your faith!

Okay, I gotta go now. We`re going to Kumihama now to go and play with more jellyfish and crabs. I`ll be sure to enjoy rest of my time here on my mission!!!

Con Amor,

Elder Saito

6/17/12

HEY FAMILY!!

Wow, I can`t even tell you what a rollercoaster of a week it was over here! But everything seemed to just work out and our beloved thriteen year old investigator, Sazaki Misa, was safely baptized this past Sunday. It really is amazing to see the Lord outstretch His hand and preform miracles right in front of us.

So, Sister Misa`s baptismal interview was on Wednesday night and her baptism was planned for Saturday. We were sure that her faith and testimony was solid so we had no worries about it. But, a bunch of problems seemed to pop right out when her interview started. We had already gotten the permission of the parents before the interview, but Sister Misa`s mother suddenly was overcome with concerns when we had asked for their names and birthdays for the baptismal record. During the interview, we received a call from the parents and they told us that they wanted to talk with us. So, the member that referred her and I left during the interview and went to talk to the mother. After a good hour of negotiating, she finally expressed her concerns and told us that she doesn`t want her daughter being baptized. It was quite the shock to both the member and I. I honestly felt my heart drop but we kept trying to help her realize that she was making a mistake. We explained how her daughter had a desire to change herself and become a better person and that by stopping her now, it would just confuse and frustrate her. It seemed to have an effect on the mother, but she told us that she would need time to think about it.

The next two days where honestly pretty nerve recking for me and Elder Shinohara. We honestly didn`t know what would happen and we weren`t quite sure what we were supposed to do. So we decided to fast about it and think about what we were supposed to do before acting recklessly and making the situation worse. We had a great impression to first write Sister Misa a letter telling her not give up on her baptism and to do her best to testify to her mother about how she wanted to change. After writing that letter, we decided to write Sister Misa`s mother as well. We just poured our hearts out onto a piece of paper and told her that she was a wonderful mother for caring about her daughter but we also testfied about how her daughter would become a better person by following Jesus Chirst. We begged for her to just listen to what her daugther was saying and what she desired. We left that letter in their post box and prayed as hard as we could that the Lord would soften her heart.

Friday night came crawling up and we still hadn`t heard anything from the mother. Elder Shinohara and I were right at the point where we were about to lose hope...we even began planning to cancel the baptismal service because we really didn`t know what would happen. But thats when we received an email from the member that referred her telling us not to give up and keep moving towards the baptism the next day. For some reason we felt really strongly at that moment that things would be okay, so we decided not cancel it.

The next day was full of miracles. Saturday afternoon, we received a call from the member telling us that the mother had changed her mind. She gave us permission to baptize Sister Misa! When we asked why, he told us that Sister Misa had done her best to testify to her mother about how she wanted to be baptized and her mother really started to think about the welfare of her daughter. Her mother was surprised at how much her daugther had changed in the few months since she started going to church. And right when she was thinking about it, she received our letter and it really helped her see that all we wanted to do is help her daughter out. So, about four hours before the service, the mother came to the church and signed the baptismal record herself and gave us the green light to baptise her.

The baptismal service went on as planned and it was the most spiritual one I`ve ever participated in before. It was so amazing to see Sister Misa take her first steps towards Jesus Christ and see her face just change after the baptism. It was such a blessing and a testimony to me that the Lord really loves all of his children and that He gives us trials so we can strengthen our faith. I don`t think I`ll ever be able to forget this experience again and I am so excited to see Sister Misa continue following Jesus Christ and change her life for the better. I love this little girl so much!

Those past few days were really just a test for us more than anything. I don`t think I`ve ever prayed as hard as I did during those two days. I couldn`t concentrate, I lost sleep, I even started crying after praying with Elder Shinohara because I was frustrated and just didn`t know why all these problems would come out at the last second. It was pretty embarrassing, I don`t think I`ve ever cried over a thriteen year old girl before.haha But in the end it all worked out! The Lord lives and he knows exactly what He`s doing. He gives us challenges and trials in our life so we can grow and as long as we hold fast to our faith and hope, things will work out in the end.

Well, thats my experience of my mission. I finally know why I stayed in Toyooka. It was all for this little thriteen year old to get her back onto track and following Jesus Christ. She`s like a little sister to me!

Anyways, I gotta go now. Running out of time! I have one thing to ask though. Mom, when you come to Japan will you buy some small things that I can give to members when I leave? It would be much appreciated! Thanks for always being amazing!

I love ya guys,

Elder Saito

6/2/2012

Hey hey hey family,

So I actually don`t have much time to write you guys cause we`re going to Amanohashidate in a bit. For those who don`t know what that is...well, I`ll send pictures next week. haha But I`m way excited to hear back from you guys! I can`t believe how quickly this week went by but we were SO BLESSED! I need to update you with everything that had happened.

But first off, I got my final transfer call of my mission. I`ll be doing a special assignment for my last transfer...which is exactly what I`ve been doing for the past transfer. Single zone leader/trainer again! Whoot! I`m way excited for this next transfer, especially because I`ll be with my beloved Elder Shinohara. Its always good when you`ve got a son who is on dendo fire!

Our little miracle of the week...well, I don`t have too much time to write all the small details but our thirteen year old investigator totally turned around earlier this week and told us that she`d been thinking about it a lot wants to be baptized! It totally caught both Elder Shinohara and I off guard! If all things go well, she should be going through this month. There are still a few things we need to finish up before it goes through, but it looks pretty good. The parents gave the okay to her, but we need to actually go and talk to them first before we can jump to conclusions. Please keep up the prayers for her! She is way awesome! I`ve learned so much in this past week about the concept of patience and accepting the Lord`s will. Sometimes you just need to let go of a few things and take a step of faith in the dark while trusting that the Lord would guide you where you need to go.

Well, there is a lot of planning that we need to do for the baptismal service! Gotta get to work! Sorry for the short email...but I wanna go to AMANOHASHIDATE!!!

Love you,

Elder Saito

5/27/2012

Hey family,

How`s it going? Its good to hear from all of you!

Things over here have been going well. I do have to admit, there has been a lot running through my head lately but I think that`s just natural for an old missionary like myself. I think I was able to learn a lot about myself as I`ve worked over here in Toyooka. Learned a lot about myself, my testimony and the importance of others and their salvation. Isn`t it wonderful how the Lord always provides learning experiences for his servants? There`s still a higher plane of a missionary that I need to step up to and I realize it more and more everyday...if that made any sense. It probably didn`t, I`m just going insane.

Well, its starting to look a lot like summer over here. You know you`ve been in an area for a while when you see -1C and then a big ole 30C on the thermometer four months later. We`ll see how blazing hot it can get over here! I`m excited. We had a lesson with one of our investigators yesterday in the blazing hot sun. We were about to melt out there in the hot hot heat! Oh yeah, this investigator is way awesome btw! Her name is Sister Kawagoe and she has a strong desire to be cleansed from her past mistakes and change as a person...but her parents are against her going to church or being baptized. AH!, hantai families are so frustrating...but its an obstacle that we need to overcome to help her come unto Christ. But you know as Elder Jeffery R Holland says best "salvation is not a cheap experience." It never was and never will be. We just need to help strengthen her faith so she can stand up for what she believes and what she wants!

Other than that, things have been going Toyooka speed. You know you`re in the country when your pass time activites while waiting for investigators is going out into the rice fields catching frogs and lizards. I love Toyooka`s nature, it makes me feel like a child just running around in the wilderness. Its also awesome when your companion is the best person on the planet! Gotta love this work.

Anyways, I need to go and catch a bus to Kobe now. Got another Zone Leader Council to attend to! Thanks for all that you guys do, I love ya!!!

MUCHO AMOR,

Elder Saito

 

 

5/20/2012

Hey family,

Wow, I can`t believe its already been a week since I last talked to you over the phone! Way quick, but this week was a good one for us over here in Toyooka. But I am really glad to hear that all of you guys are doing well. Know that I`m praying for all of ya!

Goodness gracious, it baffles me to think that May is almost over! I`ve been doing my best not worrying about time and just working but it always catches me off guard when P-day rolls around and I`m emailing you guys. Maybe I should just not email you guys from now on! ahaha I kid, I kid. But I`ve learned from experience that you don`t need time to start succeeding or changing yourself. All you need is faith, desire, commitment and the will to attack all opportunities that come before you.

The work is moving forward here in Toyooka. It may not be in large or dramatic scales but I know that it is indeed moving forward. Toyooka is a place where you can`t just use brute force or skill to produce results, I`ve learned that the hard way. But I know that the key to success in areas like this is patient but persistent work. Small, insignificant acts can produce great results in the long run. Just like how sand thats blown in the wind can shape canyons all the way down to the smallest crevasses can. I know that my work here won`t be fruit-less. But I did have a very spiritual experience this past week. After a long prayer with the man upstairs, I think I`ve finally come to an understanding of why He kept me in Toyooka for this long. Its because there are people in this area that only I can influence and I`m going to do everything I can to help them come unto Christ.

Well, I`ve gotta go now! Oh yeah, I might buy a cheap suits if there are any at Aoyama or Haruyama...so be careful bank account. haha

I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!! Make this the best week ever, okay?

Mucho Love,

Elder Saito

5/13/2012

5/6/2012

Dear Beloved Family,

I can`t believe that everything is coming to an end...this is going to be my last call on my mission. Also, this Wednesday is going to be my last zone conference so I will be giving my dying testimony. I`m honestly scared beyond reasoning because I never thought in a million years this day would actually come. I don`t know how to explain it...I have so many mixed feelings running through me right now, but I`ll try my best to express them over the phone next Monday.

Anyways, can`t be moping around about not having enough time. I can still see many miracles with the time that I`ve been blessed to work with! Great men seek for opportunities, not time. I`m telling you, you don`t need time to see miracles. All you need is faith and works and the Lord will provide the rest. For example, we had an amazing miracle this past week. Our recent convert who went to jail recently was released this past week! The best part about it is he kept his faith strong while he was in prison and he read the Book of Mormon and the Bible everyday. As a result, his cell mate noticed his faith and showed a lot of interest in the church and the gospel. And last Sunday, he came to church with our recent convert, loved the experience and now is currently working towards baptism! I swear, you work your tail off in Toyooka and right when you think nothing comes out of your efforts, the Lord provides. It was an extremely faith building experience I tell you!

Well, I don`t know what`ll happen with these next two months but lets expect miracles! Just like Nephi and building a boat. If God had command me to do all things I could do them! We just need to have enough faith to trust that the Lord knows what he is doing. Please, if you can, continue praying for our investigators as well as the members within the Fukuchiyama zone. This is a time of trial and I think if we can get out of this, we`ll be able to see miracles unfold in front of us!

God lives. I know He does. I can just feel it as I gaze through miles and miles of rice patties or look at the formations of the mountains here in Toyooka. I can recognize all of the times I`ve seen His hand in the work throughout my mission. I can feel His love and influences through all of the bonds and friendships that I`ve created on my mission. Now its my duty to savor these things and go and preach these truths to all my brothers and sisters in Toyooka.

Well, I gotta go now. Can`t keep my companion waiting for much longer. Know that I love you guys! I`m excited to talk to you guys this next Monday.

Oh by the way, I`ll probably be spending some money buying protein this week. I`ve lost 4kilos here in Toyooka and I need to gain them back! Thank you!!!

Loves,

Elder Saito

 

4/29/2012

Hey Family,

Well here it is, my final two transfers out in the field. Like you all know, I`ve got myself a new son! Elder Shinohara from Sendai! Actually, he`s from Shizuoka but he is seriously the best thing that has happened to me since who knows what. I seriously love this kid with all my heart! He`s a way talented missionary and it feels like he`s already a zone leader worthy so it helps me out a lot while I`m fulfilling the role of a single zone leader.

Honestly, I don`t really have time to write much because I need to jump on a bus to Kobe...so this will be extremely short. Just know that your son/little brother is alive and well in Toyooka. I`ve become very accustom to Toyooka, I already know more than half of the people in the town. I guess thats just what happens when you stay in an area for longer than two transfers. But I know that the Lord had left me in Toyooka and paired me up with such a great missionary for a reason. I know that the Lord lives and knows each and every one of us very well...I was able to experience that very personally this past week.

Okay, I love you guys a bunch! Thanks for being awesome all the time!!!

Loves,

Elder Saito

4/22/2012

Hey Family,

Well, transfer calls just happened this morning. I would have to say, I`m very surprised at what happened. *Drum roll please*....I`ll be staying in Toyooka! bahahaha In fact, I`ll be training a new missionary while fulfilling the position of a zone leader! It`s nothing like I imagined...I totally thought that President Zinke would`ve kicked me out of the zone leader position by now but I guess not. I`m way excited though, I`ve always wanted to train on my last two but I never in a million years thought that I would be doing it in Toyooka. Now I`m literally the only one who`ll be running this zone, no zone leader companion to support me. Its a pretty big responsiblity! But its okay, no need to worry. The Lord knows my circumstance and there`s obviously a purpose that I stayed in Toyooka. I`m positive that He left me here not to fail, but to grow into the missionary He wants me to be. I guess its like, the Lord`s helping me out so I don`t slack off on my last two transfers. It was funny because President told me over the phone in his distinctive manly voice, "It`s alright Elder Saito. If anyone can do it, it`s you!" Well, it shows that President trusts me so I need to step up to the plate.

Well, I know that the next two transfers are going to include a lot of intense prayers, scripture study and plain hard work. I have learned the hard way that doing your own thing in Toyooka yields minimal results. I need to rely on the Lord and the Spirit more fully. I`ll be praying like it all depends on the Lord and working like it all depends on me. Be prepared parents, you may be picking me up in stretcher at the end of my mission cause I`m going to get to work now. haha I feel like I`ve been working hard for the past two transfers but I need to sacrifice more. Hopefully, I don`t end up killing my new missionary.

I wonder who my new missionary is gonna be? There are actually a few new missionaries coming in this transfer. A lot of people from my 同期 will be training this transfer. Oh yeah, Elder Burns finally made his way out of the mission home and he`ll be training in his bean area for his last two transfers. About time, he`s been in there forever. Elder Jindo will actually be training too...I kind of forgot where he was gonna go but yeah.

This next transfer should be a good one. I mean, we finally have a branch president called after a month`s worth of having no real branch presidency so the work should start picking up. Life would be great if we had a ward mission leader as well but we need to learn how to work with what we got. Whatever the circumstance, we must expect miracles! Its so important to understand that most of missionary work is mental. Need to imagine success first then do everything you possibly can to achieve it. Doubt and fear will hinder your progression forward and making excuses will keep your running in circles. I must be stronger, the missionaries in my zone must be stronger, the members in this branch must be stronger. Gotta give it all.

Please continue praying for the elect here in Toyooka so they may be led to us or so that we may be led to them. Thanks for everything you guys do! I love ya

Mucho amor,

Elder Saito

4/15/2012

Dearest Family,

I would like to start my email by formally apologizing to you Mom and Dad. ごめんな!　I completely blanked last week and forgot to thank all of you guys. Yes Mother, the suitcase did come in and I am thoroughly enjoying all the delectable treats that you spent long hours purchasing and tactfully packing. You`re the bestest Mom! I finally have stuff to eat so I gained back a kilo in the past week thanks to all of the protein bars.

Oh yes and Father, thank you for all of your hard work on applying for me as well as all the rooming jazz. Honestly, I tried not to read your last email in too much depth because I thought I would be distracted for the rest of the week. I only got three-ish months left so I`m trying my best to cut myself off from thinking of things like schooling and stuff, but I guess it is inevitable to put at least some thought into it. As for my schedule...honestly, it looks like a load but I`m always up for a challenge. Hopefully, things I learned on my mission and the Lord`s grace and mercy will compensate for the fact that I haven`t been in school for over two years. I just want to hit the ground running after my mission so I don`t end up being a bum. Plus, I`ll be able to tweak my schedule if necessaryでしょ? でしょ?

Finally, Selena and Richard wrote me back. Good for them! They finally have fulfilled their role as family. I kid, I kid. But its good to hear that they`re doing well up there in the Lake of Salt. I see there`s a new addition to the family too. A cat with HIV huh...well, I guess it just fits in perfectly with that family.

Well, another week has gone by. I mean, its already the the final week of the transfer! I can`t believe it...I`ve had a lot of mixed feelings running through my head lately. I pretty much decide what will happen with the rest of my mission tomorrow in my interview with President Zinke. I feel like I`ve learned a lot about myself and this work within my time here in Toyooka. I don`t think I`ve ever felt as...small in a while, but at the same time I`ve never learned so much about Christ and about His attributes or Atonement before. Like in Ether 12:27, as man comes closer to the to the Lord, his weaknesses will be shown and those weaknesses are given to men so they can be humble. After men humble themselves before the Lord and exercise faith, that`s when the miracle of weaknesses becoming strengths happens. A year and nine months out and I still have a lot to learn on my mission. But I`m way excited to grow and become stronger with the time that I have left!

As for our two baptismal candidates, we will probably have to reset their dates. I feel like I`ve done everything to get them on their date...but we just can`t get everything in on time. There`s no point in trying to force things down these people`s throats just so we can get a baptism in. I need to have a larger view of missionary work and help them understand the doctrine of the gospel and have them feel the spirit so they can truly convert. Everything has their time and their season. I just need to do absolutely everything that I can within my circle influence and leave rest of it up to the Lord. But the good news is that our thirteen year old investigator is going back to school! She`s even started to get involved in tennis as well. I`m so glad that she`s back on track with her future but she needs the gospel as well.

Well, short sleeves T`s are in now. Hallelujah, praise the Lord! Spring time is the season of change. Like an old investigator in Iwade told me a year ago, the old will become new and there will be new friends and experiences laying in front of me. I`m way excited! Aight, thanks for being the best family ever. I honestly owe it all to you guys! アザイス!

愛してるぜ、

斉藤長老より