A White Christmas After All

Dear One and All,

I hope you had a Merry Christmas! I know I did! It was very different from all of my previous Christmases, and for good reason! I'm thousands of miles away from my family in a foreign country. You would think that would bring me a bit of homesickness, but it's actually just the opposite! This time of year has me ever more grateful to have this wonderful opportunity to serve a mission!

Caroling with Santa and the Elders 

On the 23rd of December, we went caroling with some members of the ward. They are all pretty much fluent in English and one of them is an American who is currently living in Japan with his Japanese wife teaching English. He dressed up as Santa, which was great and pretty hilarious. In the car, he would lean out the window and wave at any Japanese person who would look at him! They were so surprised! I was afraid he was going to cause an accident! You don't exactly see a lot of Gaijin (foreigners) in Japan, especially not ones dressed up as Santa.

Anyways, we went and sang at a fire station and a Retirement Home. Being at the Retirement home was sort of depressing -- seeing all of these old people in wheelchairs who couldn't even lift their hands up to feed themselves. They were so happy to see us -- some cried, the ones that could smiled. This one man even crossed himself. He looked at me with these big eyes, and although he didn't say it I could hear the words, "God bless you" radiating from his countenance. It was a really touching experience. All we were doing is singing for these people; we weren't doing anything particularly special. But the way that they reacted, you would've thought that it was so much more than that.

That experience really got me thinking about service -- what more can I do to serve people? How can I better show love as the Savior would? Something as simple as a smile or a "hello" could mean the world to someone. I think that in the past, I have gotten too caught up in the busyness of my own life, that I forgot to look at those around me. Those who might have benefited from my service or help. May we each look and pray for opportunities to better serve our fellowmen this coming year.

The Tower of Chocolate

On Christmas, my companion and I opened all of our presents! We got a huge box of gifts from the Ward -- they are such amazing people! I am blown away by their charity and love! Most of the gifts were filled with chocolate, which I don't particularly like, so it all went to my companion (I don't really mind though, it's like they say "It's the thought that counts" and that is really so true - I appreciated the gesture way more than any of the gifts). My companion and I built a tower out of all the chocolate we got for Christmas -- it's kind of crazy. Our refrigerator is overflowing with it. Missionary problems :)

Later that day, we went to the Train Station and did some more caroling with the Elders in our area! We sang Christmas songs in English and handed out flyers for the English class that we teach every week. I have never been one for Christmas music, but this Christmas, I have really grown to love the Christmas hymns! I think my favorite has become "Joy to the World," because Christ's birth truly is a reason to celebrate! The Savior, the very being that took upon Himself all of our iniquities and sicknesses, our sadnesses and our temptations, was born! If that is not a reason to rejoice, then I don't know what is!

And, of course, the best part of my Christmas season was that S-Shimai was baptized!  It was such a tender experience! (I guess my Christmas was white after all, not with snow, but white from S-Shimai's baptism and confirmation. You know, I think people look their best while dressed in white).It taught me something very valuable -- the power of prayer. I thought I knew how to pray before I came on my mission. I've been praying for as long as I can remember, and I think that was the problem. Prayer had become something that you just DID, and it had sort of lost it's sacredness to me. BUT this transfer I truly learned that if you pray for something in faith, you WILL receive that for which you have asked. 

In the scriptures it says, "Therefore, ask and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened" (3 Nephi 27:29). Now, would God give us this promise if He did not intend to keep it? No. God ALWAYS keeps His promises. For if He did not, He would cease to be God. As I have come to understand this scripture better, I have better understood the power that prayer truly has. Prayer is powerful. It is a CONVERSATION with God. My companion and I prayed that we would see a baptisms this month, and against all odds, we did!

May each of you have a wonderful New Years!

Sister Weigl

Christmas with Ward Members

Opening Presents on Christmas Day 

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK:

1. What kinds of jobs do people have mostly in your area?
I have NO idea...the usual sort? I don't really talk to people about their jobs.

2. What are the hours of the workday?
Pretty long, the Japanese center their lives on their work.

3. Do most women work? At home, or in business?
Most women work in business.

4. What do teenagers do to earn money?
Most teenagers have part-time jobs, just like in America. One of my previous investigators in Akashi worked in a Bread Store. So, it sounds like they have the same sort of jobs as in America.

5. Did your companion have to leave college or a job to come on a mission? 
My companion has already graduated from College (she's 26) and quit her job to go on a mission. She worked for a trading company and studied Psychology in College.

He Won't Forgive Hesitantly; He will Forgive Without Hesitation

Dear One and All,

Merry Christmas! The fact that Christmas is in two days really just makes my mind toss and turn in confusion. I honestly don't know where this transfer has gone. I feel like just yesterday I was in Akashi, and now, well, it's Christmas! It's an amazing feeling, though, and I am ever so grateful to be here in Japan serving the Lord during this Christmas season. There is nowhere I would rather be. There is nothing I would rather be doing. This mission has brought me the greatest joy and happiness, and I hope that this Christmas, each of you may find that same joy and peace. 

Since it's Christmas, I want to share a message about Christ. I've been thinking about Him EVEN MORE than usual lately, since it's Christmas and all. I've really been concentrating on learning more about His life and ministry -- in essence, who is Christ really? What is He like? I know He is the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the World, but what does that mean to me personally? As I pondered these questions, I stumbled upon a story in Luke that I've heard and read many times, but never really fully understood it's meaning. The Parable of the Prodigal Son. 

The story starts out like this: "A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living' " (Luke 15:11-12). This son was so concerned with himself, he demanded his inheritance from his father RIGHT THEN, which was far from customary. He was concerned with nothing and no one but himself, and after he received that for which he yearned for, he left the presence of his father's household. He had gotten that which he wanted, and had no more need for his father. Off he went t o spend his father's money and to satisfy the desires of his heart.

Although we might not like to identify ourselves with this self-centered, self-seeking son, how many times have we abandoned our own Father, even our Heavenly Father, for the pursuits of our own hearts, our worldly desires? I will be the first to admit that I have done this - I have let my pride get in the way of being a true follower of Christ. I have taken what I have wanted and got caught up in the rush of everyday life. 

But does this riotous way of living, this rush of everyday life, really hold joy when we are absent from our Father's presence? Let's go back to the story and see. The son spent all the money that his father gave him. And he was happy, or at least he thought he was happy, for a time. But then the money ran out. The party ended. The lights turned off. And the son was left with nothing but the memories of what was and an emptiness in his heart. He had spent so much time and effort seeking after what he thought would bring him happiness, only to discover that all it brought was emptiness. 

Jesus described this moment of self-inflection and illumination as such: "And [the son] came to himself..." (Luke 15:17). I just love that sentence. The Son remembered WHO HE WAS, and that made all of the difference. When he remembered he was his father's son, it gave him the strength to repent and change his ways; to humble himself to the dust, and find the courage to return to his father. 

Now, who are we? We are sons and daughters of the Eternal Heavenly Father. We are beloved and we have infinite potential. But Satan doesn't want us to remember that. He wants us to forget, just like the Prodigal Son did, who we are. He wants us to become wrapped up in the flashing lights and the fast-paced rhythms; the loud music and the enticements of the thrills that can be found in this and that. But we all must remember who we are. We must "come to ourselves," in a sense, and accept our divine natures as sons and daughters of God.

And now the story continues to my favorite part: " And [the son] arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to be merry" (Luke 15:20-24).

The Prodicgal Son by Liz Lemon Swindle

I love the reaction of the father at his son's return; he ran to him, and kissed, and rejoiced at his return. Now, I feel like if I was this father, I would be a little bit more wroth with my son. I would be like, "Where's my money? What do you mean you spent it ALL? I worked hard to earn that money and you wasted it!" But that is not what the father thought at all. He was just overjoyed to see his son return. He rejoiced. He killed the fatted calf, and had a feast in his son's honor. Not once id the father rebuke his son. All he cared about was that his son had changed his heart, repented, and come home.

Friends, this is who God is. This is who Christ is. Both God and Christ love us so VERY, VERY much. They want us to return to be with them more than anything. They don't care so much about what we have done in the past, as much as they care about who we have become. If we are willing to forsake our sins and return to them, they will willingly forgive us of all of our mistakes. Every single one. And they won't do it hesitantly. They will to it without hesitation. This Parable extends to each of us the hope that, "a loving Father in Heaven stands in the roadway, as it were, anxiously awaiting the arrival of each of His prodigal children back home" (Elder Spencer J. Condie).

At this Christmas time, may we all remember Christ's true nature; that of the Father who rejoices in the returning of his son. The Father who must have worried and prayed and watched for the return of his wayward son. The Father who stood watching, and never gave up on his son, even when his son gave up on himself.

May we all look to Christ this Christmas season with a new understanding and a new love. This is my prayer.

Sister Weigl

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-055-the-prodigal-son?lang=eng

FIVE QUESTIONS:

1. What do you eat most days? 
Well, when we are at home, I usually make a salad for myself. I have fallen in love with salads here. They have this salad dressing which I LOVE called Goma dressing. I also eat a lot of cabbage, which I never really ate before my mission, but it's super good. 

2. What is your favorite Japanese dish?  What is your least favorite?
I just LOVE all of the Japanese food here. Honestly, it's too hard to pick just one -- Sushi, Ramen, Inarazushi...I think for Christmas next year I'm going to buy a rice cooker. I don't know how I lived without one before. My least favorite dish is Nato. It's basically fermented beans that look and taste like snot. Not very good. But that's the only thing I've ever tried in Japan and not liked.

3. Are you eating any place special for Christmas? 
Not that I know of. I think it will just be business as usual. We have a lesson with S-Shimai that day. But the Ward got us LOTS of presents that we are going to open in our apartment that day, so that will be fun. Maybe we will go out to lunch or something. Honestly, I haven't really thought about it. The biggest highlight of the Christmas season here was the Ward Christmas party which they had been planning since June. It was great! There was hula dancers, and I was in the Choir (my companion is a GREAT singer, so I kind of just went along for the ride, but it was lots of fun!). A member even dressed up as Santa Claus! It was a lot of fun :)

4. Describe where you buy your groceries. 
It's this massive department store called Seiyu. It has about five or six levels and has everything from clothes to groceries. It makes me think of Wal-Mart (which, surprisingly, they don't have here). 

5. What is in your refrigerator right now? 
We just went grocery shopping, so it's nice and full. We've got lots of apples and clementines, along with cabbage, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, onions...I really am trying to make an effort to eat healthier. I find it's not so much quality that's an issue but QUANTITY. It's a work in progress. 

God Speaks and He Lives

Dear One and All:

Wow. Just, wow. That's the only word I can really think of to describe this week. I have learned so much, and have been pushed harder than I ever have been before. But I have never been happier. It's interesting how that works, isn't it?

So, let me backtrack a bit and explain what has made me say this. As I explained in my last email, we've been teaching a 90ish year old woman named S-Shimai. Initially, my companion and I had a companionship goal for her baptismal date set in about March of next year. We figured we need to go really slow, teach her through lots of repetition, and make sure she was absolutely ready. Our motto was, "Just take it slow." Well, God had other plans. 

We've been praying everyday this transfer to see a baptism, but I guess I never really thought too much in depth about how the Lord would answer that prayer. I just prayed for it, blindly hoping it would happen. Then, this week changed everything. One day, probably around Wednesday, my companion and I had the impression that we should kneel and pray, so of course, we did. And when we did, we both received the impression that March wasn't good enough for S-Shimai. S-Shimai needed to be baptized sooner. And by sooner, we felt that she needed to be baptized THIS MONTH. On the 28th. Our initial thoughts were, "BUT HOW?" 

As I mentioned, S-shimai has trouble remembering what we teach her -- how in the world was she going to be baptized? We didn't know the answer to any of our questions, but we knew that God was telling us His will. So, we put aside our fears and decided to go forward in faith. We could not deny that God wanted S-Shimai to be baptized on the 28th, so all the other little details didn't really matter. It was a matter of do I believe in God or not? Does He have the power to do miracles or not? Once I decided the answers to those questions, our next course of action was clear. We had to invite Shimai to be baptized.

The next lesson, S-Shimai expressed a lot of worry about baptism when we brought it up. You see, she is DEATHLY afraid of water, and has been ever since she was little. With the Spirit as our guide, we testified to her that through baptism, she could return to live with God, and become clean. That really caught her attention. We felt prompted to ask her to pray about it right then - to ask God if she should be baptized. She did. And guess what happened? SHE RECEIVED AN ANSWER. Just like that.

She looked up at us with her big eyes, and told us, "I got an answer. God says I can do it. I should be baptized." Oh, I wish you could have been there.  The spirit in the room was so strong! I wanted to jump and shout and sing hosannas and all of that! S-Shimai couldn't stop smiling! Joy was radiating off of her; I had never seen somebody so happy. She was still deathly afraid of water, but she had received revelation from God, and that gave her the faith to go forward, despite her fear. 

God speaks, my friends.  He answers prayers. He changes lives. He changes people. I read this quote recently, and it hit me so powerfully, especially since we experienced this miracle:

"The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature."

Ever since she received that answer to her prayer, S-Shimai has been progressing so fast. She has been changing. Her outlook on life is so different. We were worried that she would forget her experience since her memory is so bad, but she remembered it perfectly the next time we met. In fact, she brought it up herself without any promptings from us. That, in and of itself, is a HUGE miracle. She NEVER remembers our lessons, she always has to be reminded. But now, every time we talk about baptism, she lights up. She is willing to do whatever it takes to receive baptism: to become clean and return to God. To accept Him and change her ways. She is so excited to be baptized. I can barely contain myself when I think about it. A daughter of God is preparing to return to Him. This is a HUGE DEAL. 

I finally get what it means to truly rely on the Lord. It means going forward with faith, even when you have no idea how you are going to accomplish what the Lord has asked of you. It means putting all of the "but..."s and the "how?"s aside. Those are nothing in comparison to God. God has told us this is possible, so it is. It's just that simple. 

I know God is in this work. His hand is leading us, and guiding S-Shimai. This work is a work of miracles. God lives. God loves each of us, and if you don't know this for yourself, take my word for it, because I know that these things are true with all of my heart. I cannot deny it. I have seen miracles. I have participated in miracles. I KNOW, I do not just BELIEVE. You, too, can know. You can ask God, and He will answer your questions, just like He answered S-Shimai's simple prayer of whether or not she should be baptized. 

I am so grateful for answers to prayers! I am grateful that the Lord is guiding us and that He is a God of revelation. 

Sister Weigl

A Japanese-Style Christmas Tradtion
CHRISTMAS CAKE 

Christmas cake is wildly popular in Japan. For most Japanese people, Christmas cake is ordered in advance and picked up on Christmas Eve, along with Chicken ordered from the local KFC, Mos Burger or other fast food grocery stores.

FIVE QUESTIONS:

1. How many children do most Japanese families have? 
One or two. They are normally pretty small.

2. Do you see many multi-generational households? 
Yeah, S-Shimai lives with her son and granddaughter, for example!

3. Who's in charge most of the time...the mom or the dad? 
The dad.

4. Have you seen any cool family traditions around holidays or other events? 
I can't really think of any right now...I'll think about it and get back to you.

5. What do they do for Christmas? Any special foods, traditions, games, presents that they do? 
Well, Christmas is more of a commercial holiday since most people here don't believe in Jesus Christ. Christmas Eve is a day for couples, and on Christmas, I think most people eat Christmas Cake and eat chicken (KFC gets a lot of customers that day). Honestly, it's not a really big traditional holiday, just something that they picked up from western culture. The REALLY BIG deal is New Years.

You Can Do It!

Dear 皆さん, 

こんいちわ!  お元気ですか?

Well, I could start this email with talk about the weather, or about how fast time flies, or any of that normal chit-chat, but I think I'm just going to get right into it and avoid boring you all by sounding repetitive. Just know that the weather is cold, but good, and that time is flying by faster than ever.

Anyways, let's start off with a story from the life of my wonderful companion. She told me this story this week, and it really affected my outlook on some things. She told me about her nephew, and how he would always tell her that he couldn't do it: he couldn't do the dishes, he couldn't ride his bike, he couldn't...he couldn't...無理！無理！("Muri, Muri!"), or being translated, "Impossible, Impossible!" That was his favorite little phrase. 

And what do think my companion told him? That he was right? Of course not! She always replied, できるよ！(dekiruyo!), or, "You can do it!" It seems like a simple little phrase -- "出来るよ！” -- and that's because it is, but it has a profound meaning behind it, I think. 

We as people, seem to define life in two categories: what we can do and what we can't. Now, whether we do this consciously or not, that is debatable. But I know I find myself doing it, even if I don't necessarily mean to. I can't be a good missionary, I can't speak Japanese...that sort of thing. But let's just stop and think about it for a second. Maybe when we think about going back to college or cliff diving, we think "無理！無理！," just like my companion's nephew. And if we do, then we are our own “self-fulfilling” prophecy. We will never go back to college. We will never go cliff diving. All because we chose to believe it was impossible.

The question I have thought about this week is this:  Is it?  Is it impossible?  Is it 無理? 

As I have gone throughout the week, I have tried to keep my companion's reply in my mind, "出来るよ!" You can do it! Honestly, the more time I spend here in Japan serving the Lord, the more I realize that progress really has everything to do with mindset.

This was demonstrated best through one of our investigators, S-shimai. She is around 90 years old, and has a less-than perfect memory. She wants to learn about Christ and God very, very desperately. She tells us on a regular basis, "I'm about to die soon, so I want to learn!" She wants to understand the things of Christianity -- things that no one has ever taught her or given her the opportunity to learn. However, she is 90 years old and remembering is so very hard for her. We will teach her a lesson, and by the next time we meet, she will have forgotten what we taught her. Now, we could take a very negative approach to this situation. We could say that her learning about the gospel and coming unto Christ through the waters of Baptism is 無理. Or, we could take the higher way of thinking. We can tell ourselves, できるよ and have the faith that the Lord will take care of it. For, after all, this is the Lord's work. Should we not let Him set the expectations, and not us?

In response to this, I would like to report that although S-Shimai has indeed forgotten much of what we have taught her, she is slowly starting to remember and to understand. Just this last time we met with her, she told us that she remembered to pray to God! This is a miracle, and I believe that it is largely due to the fact that we chose to side-step the easy route of impossibilities, and walk down the road of faith and positive thinking.

We had a meeting with all the missionaries in our area this week where we sort of talked about something similar to this. We discussed how many people ask, "why?" but that we, as the Lord's missionaries, need to ask, "Why Not?" The Lord is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-seeing. We either believe that, or we don't. If we do, then the world can truly become open to us. There is no limits placed upon the possibilities of things we can achieve. We can become better people. We can do it. As it says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strentheneth me." 

So, できるよ。

Sister Weigl

Shinko no Saka (Hill of Faith)

Dear one and all,

Can I first say, HOW IS IT DECEMBER? You will probably have gotten tired of hearing me say this, since I've said similar things in past emails, but because it's true, let me repeat myself one more time: how time flies!

Hanayashiki continues to be an amazing experience! It feels like I've been here so much longer than just two weeks, but in a good way! I feel very at home here, and it took me much less time to feel that way. In Akashi, it took me a bit longer to become adjusted and feel comfortable, but then again, it wasn't so much like I was having to adjust to a new area so much as a brand new country, culture, and language.

Winter has come upon us here in Japan in one swift "WHOOSH." It has become very cold very fast, and I almost find myself longing for the hot summer days I experienced in Akashi... that is until I remember those hot summer days in Akashi, and then I think twice about that. I don't know if it's just me, but I feel like seasons here are more decisive than they are in America -- they decide they want to come one day, and then BAM! it's here and here to stay. I think that kind of mirrors the Japanese people, in a way -- they are a determined people who stick to their decisions. They work hard. I love them. 

So, the Hanayashiki Church building is situated upon a hill, which brings to mind the scripture, "A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid" (Matthew 5:14), which is very poetic and all, but at times...it doesn't feel so much like a hill as it does a cliff. On my bike, I feel like I'm trying to ride up the side of a cliff. It's that steep of a road. When talking to a member of the ward, she affectionately referred to it as the "Shinko no Saka" or "Hill of Faith."

Are You A Light?

I remember last week, when my companion and I decided to visit the church for the first time, my first thought was, "Are you SERIOUS? I'm going to have to bike up THIS hill to get to church?" To say the least, I was not a happy camper. Every visit to the church has been filled with lots of huffing and puffing, and yes, walking. We always need to get off our bikes to get up the hill. I was thinking about this recently, and why it is that we bike up this giant hill so regularly when it is so hard and so difficult. Why even bother? What's the point? The reason? The destination.

With the image of the church set vividly in our minds, we are able to find the motivation to push up this "Shinko no Saka." As I huff and push and sweat up this hill, I can see the golden letters on the front of the church building in my head: "Matsu Jitsu Sainto Iesu Kiristo Kyokai" or "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints."

Do we know our destination? Do we know why we are huffing and pushing and sweating up this hill of life? Do we know where we can turn when we ourselves don't have the strength to keep peddling, or even walking?

My companion knows. She is such an inspiration to me. She has some kind of sickness that she has been dealing with ever since she was fifteen years old. She could let this become a stumbling block for her. She could say, "The way up this hill is too hard" and decide to turn around and ride back down the road she battled to come up. For, as we all know, it is much, much easier to ride down a hill than it is to ride up. But, when we reach the bottom of that hill, and the thrill of the wind in our face and the speedy decent ends, what do we have? A view of the hill that we failed to conquer. Not a very satisfying view, in my opinion. But, when we hold fast to our faith, look to Christ, our Redeemer, and continue up that hill, like my companion does everyday, we will one day reach the top. And when we do, what will we see? We will have the glorious view of all that we have accomplished.

May we all continue to bike up our own "Shinko no Saka." May we ever have our goal in mind. May we one day look at all we've been able to accomplish with the help of Christ, and be able to rejoice with Him.

The road might be steep, but we can do this!

Sister Weigl