Week 21 - Kawaru = Change

TRANSFER CALLS

Remember last time we got transfer calls....i said "Change is my Hobby??" WELL....big changes are happening. I am transfering out of Senzo!!

I am so sad to leave...but i know that The lord has different and special plans for me somewhere else. I am so grateful for the amazing people i've met here in Senzo. They have all played a huge part in my life.

My new area is Tsukuba, Japan!!! That is about 2-3 hours away from Senzokuike by train. (and thats if you dont get lost on your way there)

AND I HAVE A NIHONJIN COMPANION!! I am very excited to meet her. Her name is Fukuda Shimai. She was my MTC companion's trainer!

But wait....there's more!!!....

-I will be the senior companion!

But wait....THERE IS STILL MORE!!!

-not only will we be speaking and teaching in Japanese....but i will be doing JAPANESE SIGN LANGUAGE!!!!! (Shoewa!) Teaching the gospel in Japanese SIgn language....sign me right up!!! :)

Hopefully my language game picks up this transfer haha

I have been packing all morning and i have to send my stuff off tomorrow morning! And transfers are wednesday morning. Its also safe to say...that i'm still in shock. Transfer calls make you want to poop your pants. they are so scary!

MIKI

Oh miki....she is one of our investigators. She has been meeting with the missionaries since the summer and her family is buddist.

But recently she has been showing SO much progress. She believes in God. (which is huge!!) She loves to read the book of mormon. She believes it is all true....and so we invited her to be baptized. (this was our 2nd time inviting her)

She took a second to think...(so in my mind i was like "OH MY GOSH SHE IS GOING TO SAY YES THIS IS GREAT") and then.... she said, "No."

OH my goodness... that broke my heart. She said she believed it to be true!!! she said she loved it!!! WHY DID SHE SAY NO??? My heart was so heavy with sorrow. My heart was burning and i started to cry. I felt so much sorrow. It tore me apart. I wanted to help her so bad. at that moment, i felt like i failed at being a missionary. that i wasnt fullfilling my purpose.

Then spirit taught me this:

"Sister phelps....she wasnt rejecting YOU. she wasnt saying no to YOU. She was rejecting the one who you represent. She is saying 'no' to Jesus Christ. But dont worry...because he still loves her...she will be given many more opportunities."

I am so grateful that the spirit reassured comfort to me at that time. I am also so amazed at the Mercy and Love our heavenly father has for each one of us. He NEVER gives up on his children. Even if we give up on him first...That is true and pure love.

OVERVIEW

-I hit my 5th month mark!!

-To all other missionaries who are maybe experiencing homesickness or feeling inadequate...

"You give this time to the lord."

This was something that hit me in the face this last week. i have been struggling with some really bad homesickness...but i have realized that this is a short time we have to dedicate our lives to god...and if we choose to...we have to go all in. Give it your all. Dont stop. Keep going. The angels of heaven are cheering you on.

FROM MY STUDY

-The saviors character-

If it werent for WHO christ was, and his character...there would be no atonement. There would be no hope for us...for you...or for me. There would be NO possible way we could return back to our heavenly fathers presence.

"Consider how, as the Lord was taken to Calvary and the awful agony of the crucifixion was commenced, He pleaded with the Father in behalf of the soldiers to ". . . forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Remember also that in the midst of excruciating spiritual and physical pain, the Savior offered hope and reassurance to one of the thieves on the cross, "To day shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). Throughout His mortal ministry, and especially during the events leading up to and including the atoning sacrifice, the Savior of the world turned outward--when the natural man or woman in any of us would have been self-centered and focused inward."

Imagine Jesus christ on the Cross...in the most anguishing...intense pain no one could ever experience except him. His body only being attached to a wooden pole. His body only being held by the nails driven through his hands, wrists, and feet....disregard all of that pain....and imagine how much more pain he felt just to turn his head....turn his body 10 degrees and tell the man next to him that there is hope. that he will be able to be happy...and experience a fullness of joy. Admist his own pain and suffering, the savior turned outward in compassion to the man next to him...who was also suffering such anguish.

How much do we actually understand the saviors character? Getting to know that character is the trial of our lives. In our mortal minds we cannot experience nor comprehend the character of christ all at once. And thus, the trial of our faith is to experience Christ and his character... With the Lords help...step by step and precept unto precept, until we can one day comprehend who He is and who He believes we can become.

"Jesus Christ drank the bitter cup without becoming bitter."

The savior knew he was going to die. He knew (to an extent) what he was in for. And what kind of tribulation he was going to face. Jesus Christ didn't let all that pain and suffering replace WHO he was.

Because of the saviors character and perfect love for his brothers and sisters...we are able to recieve salvation and live with our heavenly father once again. This knowledge has changed my life forever. I love my savior Jesus Christ. He is my brother, he is my redeemer, and he is my friend.

Have the best week!!

愛しています!

-Phelpsy

Transfer calls got me!