Week 32 - The Sun Will Come Up Folks!

WHAT AN AMAZING WEEK!! Wow. Honestly, the joy that I feel every single day just blows my mind. My heart has never been so happy in my whole entire life. I am constantly blown away by the love of God, and His endless mercy. I love love love my mission. and everything I am constantly learning. What a great time to be a missionary! :))

MY SCHOOL PEEPS

so this week we had the opportunity to go to a high school in Tsukuba for an International English society thingy...and OHHH it was so fun!! The super funny thing about Japanese people is that they absolutely marvel over Americans. Especially high school and middle school girls. When I walked into the school, i just saw GROUPS of girls just gathered together...staring at me....and their eyes about to fall out of their heads! I would smile and wave at them saying, "Hello!! :)" and they would literally die haha. They would do this super cute squeal and jump up & down! it was the funniest thing ever. The whole meeting/activity lasted about 7 hours! It was SO fun. I had the chance to tell them how AWESOME America is, and I introduced them to pop-rocks. That was a special moment.

At the very end of the activities, there was a "tea party" where it was just a time to have English conversation with the students. And one of the girls in my group squealed, ran and hugged me right when they announced it. (which never happens!! Japanese people do not hug. ever!) But, she did!! It was so stinkin cute!! Throughout that whole thing, I would notice that I had little shadows following me around everywhere I went! haha (shadows=17 high school girls)

It was such a cool opportunity! We are working to build up mission school in our area! -mission school: free English classes that primarily introduce people to the gospel- I really hope and pray that my new friends come and see me again! I love them so much. Japanese people have my heart!!!!!

"BEFORE THE DEVIL GOES TO SLEEP HE CHECKS UNDER HIS BED FOR...ELDER HOLLAND"

Elder Holland came to my mission yesterday, and changed the lives of everyone in Japan. I know that he is a man CALLED OF GOD. He has effected millions of people because of his worthiness to be a representative of Jesus Christ. There was a general conference talk he gave a few years ago while I was in high school.. that talk is called, "Like a broken vessel". That talk completely changed my life. In fact...it saved my life. I am so grateful the Lord calls men who put God first, and who dedicate their own lives to serve the Lord's children.

For anyone who is struggling right now in their own lives...who feel broken...who feel like they are not good enough...who feel like it is the end...please let me share what I have learned from this good man, and from the spirit of the Lord.

I have learned that life is not perfect. Some days aren't as bright or as happy as we would like it to be...When so many of our dreams are broken, hopes are broken, when it's hard to pray, or prayers seem like they are not being answered...WHEN THOSE DAYS COME...(and they will)...Remember that the Lord can not only FIX broken things..but the GOD LOVES BROKEN THINGS. He must. Because there are so many of us that are broken. So many lives bruised, torn, and broken. BUT BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THATS WHEN FAITH MATTERS. When the sea is calm, anyone can hold the tiller. It's when the storms of life come, we have to be strong. When we need to have faith!

God is invested in fixing broken things. It takes broken clouds to nourish the earth. It takes broken earth to grow grain. It takes broken grain to make bread. It takes broken bread to nourish us. This is the cycle of life. Some things have to grow and break and grow and break in cycles. It's the course of life. And He can fix it all. He can make it work. The thing God loves most about us is that we are broken.

The Savior will take everything that's wrong with you (temper, anger, pride, transgressions..) that savior is going to come and take everything that's broken and heal it. And will make you perfect before god. IF YOU WANT IT. If you live for it. If you live the commandments that get you there.

Things that are broken and continue to break still have the same problem...and it will still have the same solution.

THE ATONEMENT OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. Thats the solution.

Now it's more personal. It's inside us. It's in soul. It's down deep. It's personal. We need to break our hearts a little. And feel something. In a hundred ways we fall short...we need to feel sorry for it.

While Elder Holland was speaking, this question came to my mind: "What does a broken heart and contrite spirit have to do with the atonement?" --And the answer is...everything. It has everything to do with the atonement. Christ died of a broken heart. He died from the weight of EVERY. SINGLE. MISTAKE. WE HAVE/WILL EVER MAKE.

One of the biggest days in all of history was the atonement. Before my mission I knew very little about crucifixion--

I have learned that those who were crucified died so slowly. it took so long to die. Death was brought by suffocation. The only way to get air was to stand on the nails that were pierced through your hands and feet. So your lungs could open big enough to get oxygen. So you died by inches. By gasping.

The day of the crucifixion of the Savior (and other prisoners)...before their bodies were taken off of the cross, the soldiers would take a hammer and to make sure the prisoners were actually dead...they would break their legs. To send the shock to the nerves and that would kill them instantly. Rather than breaking the bones of the Savior..(it was declared in heaven that the saviors bones would not break)...the soldier stopped and decided that instead of breaking his legs...he would do something else. He drew his sword and pierced the Savior in his side. Sending fluid and blood gushing.

The Savior literally died from the suffering of a broken heart. It ruptured his heart.

So every Sunday we are to come to a church building...a 16 year old priest will BREAK bread and bless it..and a 12 year old deacon will pass the BROKEN bread, representing the Savior's body. And pass water to represent the Savior's blood. And symbolically we offer our little lamb. Our broken hearts. And say, "I'm sorry for my sins. I'm sorry for my temper. I'm sorry that sometimes I'm unkind.. I'm sorry that I make mistakes. I feel contrition. And my heart is broken. Heal me. Fix me." And he can. And he does. That's what he Savior does.

That's the role that God has. To fix broken things. To heal his children.

Have faith when you need it the most. Believe that prayers will be answered. To believe that gifts will be given when you don't feel worthy of them. That the sun will come up again. Out of all the titles I love of the savior it is "the bright and morning star" the sun.

"The sun comes up folks". I don't care how long it's been dark. The healing hand of God will be on us. And if we give everything of ours that is broken to him...he will give it back perfectly. He did it for me. And he WILL do it for you if you let him.

The resurrection is a symbol of broken things being fixed. being perfectly healed. The only thing that is asked is sorrow and contrition for sin and products of a broken heart.

We are all broken. And god knows that. and despite of everything that is wrong with us...HE STILL LOVES US PERFECTLY.

I can strongly testify of that.

At the end of the devotional Elder Holland said this:

"I bless you all within the sound of my voice...in this whole nation...Through his name and by his authority, I leave a blessing with you (the same as he (Jesus christ) would do if he were here) as his apostle, in the name of Jesus Christ, with apostolic ordination...A personal blessing as if our hands were on your head....

I pounce a blessing of healing. Repairing broken things. Healing broken things. Broken families. Broken dreams. Broken hopes. Because I have authorization to do it...I HEAL BROKEN THINGS."

The very moment he said that...I FELT HEALING. I FELT THE POWER OF GOD. I FELT CLEANSING. The healing power of the atonement IS REAL AND IT IS POWERFUL.

Please learn of him and gain that relationship with God. He can heal you. He can and He will because He does love you. You are His.

This mission has changed my life. I thought I had found the Lord before my mission. But, I didn't find Him....He found me.

I love him with every fiber of my body. Jesus is the Christ. He lives.

Have such an amazing week everyone!!

Smile lots and read your scriptures :)

love you!!

Sister Phelps

The Rocket Park