This is a quote from Elder Holland's new book "Created for Greater Things" I just love the title. Elder Holland says, "I believe we have all been created for greater things than we can comprehend. As I read the quote below I was reminded and deeply touched that the atonement is real. Christ has felt every feeling we have ever felt. He loves us. He is counting on us to share the great gospel message of peace and goodwill. He also knows it is not easy to share the gospel, but we can do it!!
I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are the Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for him?
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Called to Serve
Japan Sendai/Sapporo Mission
Thursday, March 31, 2011
First Baptism in Sapporo
I was lucky enough to arrive in Sapporo just in time to witness a baptism. I was able to play the piano for the service.
Arriving in Sapporo
Sendai missionaries arriving in Sapporo.
Message sent via Facebook from Sister Imamiya from Iwaki
Dear sister Heather,
Thank you so much for your e-mails and prayers.
I'm doing well after I went to see the blood physician in Aizu.^^
Sister Heather , I'm very very positive person. So don't worry about it. I think that living conditions in Iwaki are getting better a little by little.A supportin group of the churchs gave church members in Iwaki food and water and kerosene and so on.^^
I'm very happy to hear that.They are doing good.
Yesterday I saw the pictures of many missionaries on the facebook.Elder Ovard seems to be doing well.I was relieved to see the missionary's picture. I really want to see missionaries again, but I know that it's hard for them to come back to the mission area.
I'm praying that many missionaries in Japan are having a wonderful time every day even though they have a hard time.
I saw on the facebook that Mission President is visiting victims with church members. I'm very grateful for everyone.
Sister Heather,Please say " Thank you so much" to church members in USA. I really appreciate it.
I'm looking forward to seeing you one day.
Lot's of love,
Hiroko
Thank you so much for your e-mails and prayers.
I'm doing well after I went to see the blood physician in Aizu.^^
Sister Heather , I'm very very positive person. So don't worry about it. I think that living conditions in Iwaki are getting better a little by little.A supportin group of the churchs gave church members in Iwaki food and water and kerosene and so on.^^
I'm very happy to hear that.They are doing good.
Yesterday I saw the pictures of many missionaries on the facebook.Elder Ovard seems to be doing well.I was relieved to see the missionary's picture. I really want to see missionaries again, but I know that it's hard for them to come back to the mission area.
I'm praying that many missionaries in Japan are having a wonderful time every day even though they have a hard time.
I saw on the facebook that Mission President is visiting victims with church members. I'm very grateful for everyone.
Sister Heather,Please say " Thank you so much" to church members in USA. I really appreciate it.
I'm looking forward to seeing you one day.
Lot's of love,
Hiroko
Monday, March 28, 2011
A Letter From President Daniels
Dear Elder Ovard,
We are so excited to serve with you in the Japan Sapporo Mission. You are going to be a great addition to our family and we look forward to working closely with you.
I thought you might be interested in reading the letter that I sent to your parents. Sister Daniels and my love and prayers will always be with you.
We wanted to send you a quick message to let you know how excited we are to work with your son in the Japan Sapporo Mission. All of the Sendai missionaries arrived safely in Sapporo within approximately 24 hours of hearing the decision of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to relocate the Sendai and Tokyo Missions’ missionaries. It was a major undertaking with miraculous results to gather all of the missionaries in the Sendai area, charter buses, secure train tickets, purchase airline tickets and deliver them safely to Sapporo. Many of them arrived with only the clothes on their backs and their backpacks. Others brought most of their belongings. The last group arrived late on Thursday evening with President and Sister Tateoka and Elder and Sister Choi.
On Friday morning, the missionaries were able to gather together as an entire mission and say goodbye to President and Sister Tateoka. President Tateoka has the priesthood keys for most of the members in Sendai who were most severely impacted by the recent events. Elder Choi informed the missionaries that the priesthood keys for the missionaries have now been transferred to President Daniels and the Sapporo Mission. This will allow President and Sister Tateoka the ability to dedicate their full time attention to the extensive needs of the members. We then had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with the Sendai Missionaries and quickly came to appreciate the strength of their testimonies, their dedication to the gospel and their musical talent. They will be great additions to the work in Sapporo.
On Saturday, we brought in all of the Sapporo Missionaries to Sapporo and had a Mission Conference. It was wonderful to have all of the missionaries together. We discussed the missionary work in Sapporo, introduced the new missionary structure and announced each individual transfer. Planning this transfer was another witness to us that the Lord is in charge of this work and continues to lead and guide our efforts – right down to the individual missionary. The two missions are now completely integrated with a Zone Leader from each mission leading the zones and actually more District Leaders from the Sendai Mission than the Sapporo Mission leading the individual Districts. We are excited to see the surge in the work as we prepare for the temple that has been announced for Sapporo.
We are sensitive to the intense love and feeling the missionaries have for the Sendai Mission, the members and their investigators. We do not intend to replace those feelings, but to built on top of them additional experiences that they will grow to love Sapporo and the people here. We hope that the missionaries will be able to return soon to Sendai but were instructed to integrate them fully into our mission. Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with all of the people in Japan that have been impacted by all of these disasters.
We wanted to let you know our contact information and invite you to communicate directly with us with any questions or concerns. (Sorry I took out the personal phone numbers and emails. They are so sweet to give us all of thier information although I don't plan to use it.) We also maintain a mission blog that we update weekly with lots of photos of the missionaries. It is japansapporomission@blogspot.com. President Daniels also posts monthly photo albums on his facebook account at Lee A. Daniels.
Please know that we will love and take care of your son just like one of our own children. We appreciate your love, prayers and sacrifice on behalf of your son and all of the missionaries.
With love,
President and Sister Daniels
President and Sister Daniels have been so kind. I am really grateful for the love they have shown all of the new missionaries. Elder Ovard already adores them.
We are so excited to serve with you in the Japan Sapporo Mission. You are going to be a great addition to our family and we look forward to working closely with you.
I thought you might be interested in reading the letter that I sent to your parents. Sister Daniels and my love and prayers will always be with you.
We wanted to send you a quick message to let you know how excited we are to work with your son in the Japan Sapporo Mission. All of the Sendai missionaries arrived safely in Sapporo within approximately 24 hours of hearing the decision of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to relocate the Sendai and Tokyo Missions’ missionaries. It was a major undertaking with miraculous results to gather all of the missionaries in the Sendai area, charter buses, secure train tickets, purchase airline tickets and deliver them safely to Sapporo. Many of them arrived with only the clothes on their backs and their backpacks. Others brought most of their belongings. The last group arrived late on Thursday evening with President and Sister Tateoka and Elder and Sister Choi.
On Friday morning, the missionaries were able to gather together as an entire mission and say goodbye to President and Sister Tateoka. President Tateoka has the priesthood keys for most of the members in Sendai who were most severely impacted by the recent events. Elder Choi informed the missionaries that the priesthood keys for the missionaries have now been transferred to President Daniels and the Sapporo Mission. This will allow President and Sister Tateoka the ability to dedicate their full time attention to the extensive needs of the members. We then had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with the Sendai Missionaries and quickly came to appreciate the strength of their testimonies, their dedication to the gospel and their musical talent. They will be great additions to the work in Sapporo.
On Saturday, we brought in all of the Sapporo Missionaries to Sapporo and had a Mission Conference. It was wonderful to have all of the missionaries together. We discussed the missionary work in Sapporo, introduced the new missionary structure and announced each individual transfer. Planning this transfer was another witness to us that the Lord is in charge of this work and continues to lead and guide our efforts – right down to the individual missionary. The two missions are now completely integrated with a Zone Leader from each mission leading the zones and actually more District Leaders from the Sendai Mission than the Sapporo Mission leading the individual Districts. We are excited to see the surge in the work as we prepare for the temple that has been announced for Sapporo.
We are sensitive to the intense love and feeling the missionaries have for the Sendai Mission, the members and their investigators. We do not intend to replace those feelings, but to built on top of them additional experiences that they will grow to love Sapporo and the people here. We hope that the missionaries will be able to return soon to Sendai but were instructed to integrate them fully into our mission. Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with all of the people in Japan that have been impacted by all of these disasters.
We wanted to let you know our contact information and invite you to communicate directly with us with any questions or concerns. (Sorry I took out the personal phone numbers and emails. They are so sweet to give us all of thier information although I don't plan to use it.) We also maintain a mission blog that we update weekly with lots of photos of the missionaries. It is japansapporomission@blogspot.com. President Daniels also posts monthly photo albums on his facebook account at Lee A. Daniels.
Please know that we will love and take care of your son just like one of our own children. We appreciate your love, prayers and sacrifice on behalf of your son and all of the missionaries.
With love,
President and Sister Daniels
President and Sister Daniels have been so kind. I am really grateful for the love they have shown all of the new missionaries. Elder Ovard already adores them.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
An American Missionary in Japan
This is a news article that is about Elder Hiltbrand who was serving in Tagajo when the Earthquake happened. Elder Ovard served in Tagajo before he was transfered to Morioka. I thought Elder Ovard would like this story posted on his blog.
Quake gives new meaning to a young man's missionBy Kari Huus, msnbc.com senior reporter
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints
Patrick Hiltbrand, American missionary in Japan.
It was faith that landed Patrick Hiltbrand in the path of a tsunami last week, but arguably it was also his faith that got him out —as he survived the deluge in the upper floor of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the small town of Tagajo. Despite the ordeal he has survived, he so far has no intention of leaving Japan soon, and that too has to do with his religious convictions.
“Right now, I’m here in Japan for two years to serve God,” said the 20-year-old speaking from a mission in Sapporo. He is determined to return to the disaster zone to help with recovery, but awaits instruction: “My (mission) leaders are receiving guidance from God,” he said.
For members of the Mormon church, going on “mission” is a rite of passage. At any given moment there are about 52,000 Mormon missionaries working around the world — most of them between 19 and 21 years old. In order to remain focused of their religious work, they are asked not to watch television, follow the news or call their families and friends. On their one day off a week, they can write letters or email.
Hiltbrand, from Pocatello, Idaho, is the third son in the family to go on mission, but the first to be sent overseas. Being chosen for Japan was "beyond his wildest dreams," said his mom, Corrie Hiltbrand. He had been evangelizing in Sendai area of Japan for about 15 months when the quake struck.
Dressed in the standard issue white-shirt-and-tie, he and his “companion” Yuji Aiura — Mormon missionaries always travel in pairs — had arrived by bicycle to a small restaurant in Tagajo, a river town about two miles from the ocean.
They were discussing the power of God with two local Japanese when the shaking began. They ignored it at first says Hiltbrand — there are so many small quakes in this region — but not for long.
The growing fury of the rumbling drove them to take shelter under a table. Then they decided to run outside.
“There was a loud bang and everything was moving in every direction,” Hiltbrand says. “Cars were rocking on the street.”
When it stopped, the two missionaries jumped on their bikes and rode to check on their apartment, then headed to the Mormon church in Tagajo, dodging newly created crevices and open manholes.
Along the way, Hiltbrand registered the shock and fear on faces all around him, wracking his brain for the right course of action.
“As we started toward the church I turned to my companion and said ‘our job today is to help people be happy as we can,'” said Hiltbrand. “I tried to smile and say hi to everyone.”
It is in Hiltbrand's character to try to cheer people, said his mother. She describes him as tough in the face of adversity, outgoing and enthusiastic about whatever task is at hand. Right before leaving on mission, the electronics student needed to make some money—and the only job he could get was standing on a corner wearing a big sign for a local pizza joint.
“He stood on a street corner flipping and spinning that sign. He never stopped moving,” said Corrie Hiltbrand. “He said, ‘If this is what I have to do for my job, then I’m going to go all out,’ and that’s what Patrick does.”
Any illusion that the disaster was over quickly passed as traffic built—with cars heading inland toward Sendai. Then police and fire vehicle sirens began blaring tsunami warnings.
Patrick Hiltbrand
The scene in Tagajo, Japan, about 2 miles from the coast, after the tsunami swept through the city.
Hiltbrand and Aiura climbed to the second story of the church, a building that is raised 4 to 5 feet off the ground.
The watched out the window as the water level rose rapidly, aided by the river that wraps around the town—and sucked their bicycles into a torrent, along with cars and debris.
Water began pouring through the church’s mail slot in the door of the first floor.
“From the second floor it sounded like a waterfall,” said Hiltbrand. “I went downstairs, and as I watched it coming in … the glass on the door shattered and water came pouring in.”
The water rose to about four feet before it started to subside he said.
It was 20 hours before the young missionaries could venture outside. They were not able to go to the emergency meeting site designated by their mission because they were isolated on the wrong side of the swollen river. There was no cell service to get instruction from higher-ups at the church.
“It was a real ‘what do I do’ moment,” Hiltbrand said in a matter-of-fact voice. “(Aiura) said, ‘We need to get to Sendai,'” about 20 miles away.
They trudged through standing water, navigating through the piles of cars and wreckage. Japanese residents were also wading through the remaining water, some carrying elderly family members on their backs.
A local church member driving toward Tagajo from Sendai spotted Hiltbrand and Aiura as he neared the town. He turned around them and drove them to the unscathed mission in Sendai city, about 24 hours after the quake.
The church has since moved all 200 of its young evangelists from Tokyo and the Sendai area to missions they believe to be a safe distance from the radiation leak at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant.
Hiltbrand is now at a mission in Sapporo — on the northern island of Hokkaido. On Friday he and other evacuees were getting health evaluations and briefings on the full scope of the disaster, including the radiation leaking from Fukushima — a crisis that has prompted the U.S. government to offer U.S. citizens evacuation from Japan.
Hiltbrand said he has no thought of going back to Utah early. And his mother said she is 100 percent supportive of his plans—even after a tense and prayer-filled 24 hours of uncertainty about her son’s survival.
“(To ask) for him to come home never even went through our minds,” she said. “Patrick is where he has planned to be all his life…. We knew he was where needed to be and when we heard from him that he had been protected. And we know that he will be protected.”
For his part, Hiltbrand is itching to get back to the disaster zone.
“I really want to be in Tagajo helping people,” he says. “I have many friends in Tagajo and I don’t know how they are. I don’t know how they will clean it all up and I want to help.”
But, as senior leaders of the LDS church told msnbc.com earlier in the week, the missionaries, although enthusiastic, may be more of a burden than a help at this stage.
So Hiltbrand waits until the church says it is OK for him to change his mission — from saving souls to salvaging lives.
“All I know is I’m now in Sapporo because I’m supposed to be,” he said.
.
Quake gives new meaning to a young man's missionBy Kari Huus, msnbc.com senior reporter
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints
Patrick Hiltbrand, American missionary in Japan.
It was faith that landed Patrick Hiltbrand in the path of a tsunami last week, but arguably it was also his faith that got him out —as he survived the deluge in the upper floor of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the small town of Tagajo. Despite the ordeal he has survived, he so far has no intention of leaving Japan soon, and that too has to do with his religious convictions.
“Right now, I’m here in Japan for two years to serve God,” said the 20-year-old speaking from a mission in Sapporo. He is determined to return to the disaster zone to help with recovery, but awaits instruction: “My (mission) leaders are receiving guidance from God,” he said.
For members of the Mormon church, going on “mission” is a rite of passage. At any given moment there are about 52,000 Mormon missionaries working around the world — most of them between 19 and 21 years old. In order to remain focused of their religious work, they are asked not to watch television, follow the news or call their families and friends. On their one day off a week, they can write letters or email.
Hiltbrand, from Pocatello, Idaho, is the third son in the family to go on mission, but the first to be sent overseas. Being chosen for Japan was "beyond his wildest dreams," said his mom, Corrie Hiltbrand. He had been evangelizing in Sendai area of Japan for about 15 months when the quake struck.
Dressed in the standard issue white-shirt-and-tie, he and his “companion” Yuji Aiura — Mormon missionaries always travel in pairs — had arrived by bicycle to a small restaurant in Tagajo, a river town about two miles from the ocean.
They were discussing the power of God with two local Japanese when the shaking began. They ignored it at first says Hiltbrand — there are so many small quakes in this region — but not for long.
The growing fury of the rumbling drove them to take shelter under a table. Then they decided to run outside.
“There was a loud bang and everything was moving in every direction,” Hiltbrand says. “Cars were rocking on the street.”
When it stopped, the two missionaries jumped on their bikes and rode to check on their apartment, then headed to the Mormon church in Tagajo, dodging newly created crevices and open manholes.
Along the way, Hiltbrand registered the shock and fear on faces all around him, wracking his brain for the right course of action.
“As we started toward the church I turned to my companion and said ‘our job today is to help people be happy as we can,'” said Hiltbrand. “I tried to smile and say hi to everyone.”
It is in Hiltbrand's character to try to cheer people, said his mother. She describes him as tough in the face of adversity, outgoing and enthusiastic about whatever task is at hand. Right before leaving on mission, the electronics student needed to make some money—and the only job he could get was standing on a corner wearing a big sign for a local pizza joint.
“He stood on a street corner flipping and spinning that sign. He never stopped moving,” said Corrie Hiltbrand. “He said, ‘If this is what I have to do for my job, then I’m going to go all out,’ and that’s what Patrick does.”
Any illusion that the disaster was over quickly passed as traffic built—with cars heading inland toward Sendai. Then police and fire vehicle sirens began blaring tsunami warnings.
Patrick Hiltbrand
The scene in Tagajo, Japan, about 2 miles from the coast, after the tsunami swept through the city.
Hiltbrand and Aiura climbed to the second story of the church, a building that is raised 4 to 5 feet off the ground.
The watched out the window as the water level rose rapidly, aided by the river that wraps around the town—and sucked their bicycles into a torrent, along with cars and debris.
Water began pouring through the church’s mail slot in the door of the first floor.
“From the second floor it sounded like a waterfall,” said Hiltbrand. “I went downstairs, and as I watched it coming in … the glass on the door shattered and water came pouring in.”
The water rose to about four feet before it started to subside he said.
It was 20 hours before the young missionaries could venture outside. They were not able to go to the emergency meeting site designated by their mission because they were isolated on the wrong side of the swollen river. There was no cell service to get instruction from higher-ups at the church.
“It was a real ‘what do I do’ moment,” Hiltbrand said in a matter-of-fact voice. “(Aiura) said, ‘We need to get to Sendai,'” about 20 miles away.
They trudged through standing water, navigating through the piles of cars and wreckage. Japanese residents were also wading through the remaining water, some carrying elderly family members on their backs.
A local church member driving toward Tagajo from Sendai spotted Hiltbrand and Aiura as he neared the town. He turned around them and drove them to the unscathed mission in Sendai city, about 24 hours after the quake.
The church has since moved all 200 of its young evangelists from Tokyo and the Sendai area to missions they believe to be a safe distance from the radiation leak at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant.
Hiltbrand is now at a mission in Sapporo — on the northern island of Hokkaido. On Friday he and other evacuees were getting health evaluations and briefings on the full scope of the disaster, including the radiation leaking from Fukushima — a crisis that has prompted the U.S. government to offer U.S. citizens evacuation from Japan.
Hiltbrand said he has no thought of going back to Utah early. And his mother said she is 100 percent supportive of his plans—even after a tense and prayer-filled 24 hours of uncertainty about her son’s survival.
“(To ask) for him to come home never even went through our minds,” she said. “Patrick is where he has planned to be all his life…. We knew he was where needed to be and when we heard from him that he had been protected. And we know that he will be protected.”
For his part, Hiltbrand is itching to get back to the disaster zone.
“I really want to be in Tagajo helping people,” he says. “I have many friends in Tagajo and I don’t know how they are. I don’t know how they will clean it all up and I want to help.”
But, as senior leaders of the LDS church told msnbc.com earlier in the week, the missionaries, although enthusiastic, may be more of a burden than a help at this stage.
So Hiltbrand waits until the church says it is OK for him to change his mission — from saving souls to salvaging lives.
“All I know is I’m now in Sapporo because I’m supposed to be,” he said.
.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
I'm In Sapporo!!
I`m in Sapporo!!! Haha ya it`s even hard for me to believe. It`s been a crazy past week that`s for sure. It has been nice to get here and finally get a little settled in though. Last weekend was kind of a party as we had our whole Sendai mission gathered together with President Tateoka on Friday, and then both missions (Sendai and Sapporo, now only Sapporo) gather for a mission conference on Saturday. It was fun to see everybody and even catch up with some of the missionaries we knew from the MTC. It was definitley an adventure and quite the trip getting here though.
We got the announcement on Wednesday afternoon that we would be going to Sapporo. We were all a little surprised but what was even more of a surprise was that we would be going that day!!! Luckily I had a little time to get my things together but there were a lot of missionaries who basically came with nothing. We hopped on a charter bus Wed. evening with about 40 missionaries and headed up to Aomori, the most northern part of our mission. We arrived in Aomori around 1:30 in the morning and stayed in a hotel (which means I did sleep in a bed for the first time in about a year :)). We got up early that morning and took a taxi to the airport in Aomori and flew to Tokyo. Yeah I got to go to Tokyo!!! Haha I`ve wanted to go to Tokyo for forever but unfortunately we didn`t leave the airport. We met up with Elder Chie, our area authority and member of the 70, and he sent us off to Sapporo. We met up with President Daniels here and then headed to the Mission Home in Sapporo. Surprisingly, Sapporo is actually a bigger city than Sendai. I was a little surprised with that but don`t have any problem with it :) That evening we ate pizza from Costco, yeah Costco :), and that was about it. Things were a little crazy with about 70 missionaries in one home but I think things worked out alright. I stayed the evening in one of the nearby apartments.
Friday we were able to meet with President and Sister Tateoka and it was awesome. I love them so much. It was so sad to say goodbye to them. They have done so much not only for us missionaries, but the members and more importantly the people of Sendai. They worked so hard and I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to serve under President Tateoka. I learned so much. I hope to be able to continue to incorporate the things I have learned as I continue to serve. It was so hard for all of us to say goodbye. After the conference we all got in line to give them hugs goodbye and I have never seen so many tears in my life. I kind of felt like a baby but that is how much I love and appreciate all they have done for me. They will always have a special place in my heart! :) They have now returned to Sendai to help out there and try and get the members and everybody under control.
We were also blessed to have Elder Chie, a member of the 70 speak to us as well. There is so much power when our leaders speak to us!! He is Korean but spoke in English. He is such an awesome man. He actually talked a lot about marriage and how we need to get married right away after our missions. Geez!!! Haha I still got a year left!
Then we had President and Sister Daniels speak to us. I already love them. This morning we got up early, went to the church and played basketball and volleyball with President and some of the missionaries. He loves to be active and is a lot of fun. I`m excited to get to know him and serve under him. During the conference with both missions He announced the transfer. Wow that had to have been pretty overwhelming trying to figure out what to do with 140 missionaries!! Sadly I am not comps with my beloved Narita Choro anymore, but I am with another awesome missionary named Elder Kobayashi :) He is an awesome missionary and so much fun! He`s got a way fun and interesting personality and everybody loves him so I`m excited to work with him. We will be the Zone Leaders in an area called Teine. We also have 2 other missionaries in our same apartment. They are both from the Sendai mission. Elder Shaw and Elder Taylor. No not my beloved Elder Taylor from the MTC but they are both good guys. Our apartment is a little small so we kind of have to fight to make it work but it`s not too bad. Basically every area became at least a 4 man apartment and there are even some apartments with 6 Sisters. Look out!!!
Our ward is awesome. Ya, it`s a ward!!!! There are about 70 people in our ward and they have already been helping out so much. I am so thankful for these awesome saints here in Japan and for their sacrifice for us. It has been a lot of work and I`m sure a lot of stress trying to combine 2 missions, but they are doing a good job.
I also am lucky enough to come into the area just in time for a baptism!!! Noshiro, an 18 year old kid will be getting baptized this Saturday. Yaaayyy!! I was able to meet him yesterday and He`s awesome. We also met with a self-referral yesterday after church and were able to make a baptism date with him too!! His name is Mickey. He`s Japanese but said to call him Mickey. He has a bad addiction to alchohol and cigarettes but wants to quit so he came to the church. The work is moving forward here and there is no doubt in my mind it will continue to move forward as we prepare for the temple here in Sapporo!! :)
Thank you all for all your prayers on our behalf during this time of struggle here in Japan. Things are now going well and we will be able to focus on the missionary work we all love doing. I`m so grateful for this opportunity the Lord has blessed me with and am going to do all I can to make the most of it. I love you all!!! Take Care.
Elder Ovard
We got the announcement on Wednesday afternoon that we would be going to Sapporo. We were all a little surprised but what was even more of a surprise was that we would be going that day!!! Luckily I had a little time to get my things together but there were a lot of missionaries who basically came with nothing. We hopped on a charter bus Wed. evening with about 40 missionaries and headed up to Aomori, the most northern part of our mission. We arrived in Aomori around 1:30 in the morning and stayed in a hotel (which means I did sleep in a bed for the first time in about a year :)). We got up early that morning and took a taxi to the airport in Aomori and flew to Tokyo. Yeah I got to go to Tokyo!!! Haha I`ve wanted to go to Tokyo for forever but unfortunately we didn`t leave the airport. We met up with Elder Chie, our area authority and member of the 70, and he sent us off to Sapporo. We met up with President Daniels here and then headed to the Mission Home in Sapporo. Surprisingly, Sapporo is actually a bigger city than Sendai. I was a little surprised with that but don`t have any problem with it :) That evening we ate pizza from Costco, yeah Costco :), and that was about it. Things were a little crazy with about 70 missionaries in one home but I think things worked out alright. I stayed the evening in one of the nearby apartments.
Friday we were able to meet with President and Sister Tateoka and it was awesome. I love them so much. It was so sad to say goodbye to them. They have done so much not only for us missionaries, but the members and more importantly the people of Sendai. They worked so hard and I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to serve under President Tateoka. I learned so much. I hope to be able to continue to incorporate the things I have learned as I continue to serve. It was so hard for all of us to say goodbye. After the conference we all got in line to give them hugs goodbye and I have never seen so many tears in my life. I kind of felt like a baby but that is how much I love and appreciate all they have done for me. They will always have a special place in my heart! :) They have now returned to Sendai to help out there and try and get the members and everybody under control.
We were also blessed to have Elder Chie, a member of the 70 speak to us as well. There is so much power when our leaders speak to us!! He is Korean but spoke in English. He is such an awesome man. He actually talked a lot about marriage and how we need to get married right away after our missions. Geez!!! Haha I still got a year left!
Then we had President and Sister Daniels speak to us. I already love them. This morning we got up early, went to the church and played basketball and volleyball with President and some of the missionaries. He loves to be active and is a lot of fun. I`m excited to get to know him and serve under him. During the conference with both missions He announced the transfer. Wow that had to have been pretty overwhelming trying to figure out what to do with 140 missionaries!! Sadly I am not comps with my beloved Narita Choro anymore, but I am with another awesome missionary named Elder Kobayashi :) He is an awesome missionary and so much fun! He`s got a way fun and interesting personality and everybody loves him so I`m excited to work with him. We will be the Zone Leaders in an area called Teine. We also have 2 other missionaries in our same apartment. They are both from the Sendai mission. Elder Shaw and Elder Taylor. No not my beloved Elder Taylor from the MTC but they are both good guys. Our apartment is a little small so we kind of have to fight to make it work but it`s not too bad. Basically every area became at least a 4 man apartment and there are even some apartments with 6 Sisters. Look out!!!
Our ward is awesome. Ya, it`s a ward!!!! There are about 70 people in our ward and they have already been helping out so much. I am so thankful for these awesome saints here in Japan and for their sacrifice for us. It has been a lot of work and I`m sure a lot of stress trying to combine 2 missions, but they are doing a good job.
I also am lucky enough to come into the area just in time for a baptism!!! Noshiro, an 18 year old kid will be getting baptized this Saturday. Yaaayyy!! I was able to meet him yesterday and He`s awesome. We also met with a self-referral yesterday after church and were able to make a baptism date with him too!! His name is Mickey. He`s Japanese but said to call him Mickey. He has a bad addiction to alchohol and cigarettes but wants to quit so he came to the church. The work is moving forward here and there is no doubt in my mind it will continue to move forward as we prepare for the temple here in Sapporo!! :)
Thank you all for all your prayers on our behalf during this time of struggle here in Japan. Things are now going well and we will be able to focus on the missionary work we all love doing. I`m so grateful for this opportunity the Lord has blessed me with and am going to do all I can to make the most of it. I love you all!!! Take Care.
Elder Ovard
A New Missonary in Japan Sapporo mission!
We recieved a call from church headquarters this week telling us that Elder Ovard is being transferred to Sapporo Japan along with all of the other missionaries in his mission. Wow I can't imaging the amout of stress that puts onto the Sapporo Mission president. We were extremely grateful however that all of the Sendai Missionaries will stay together. The Toyko msissionaries are being split up into three missions that are down south.
The next day Thursday March 18th at 3 in the morning Elder Ovard did call us to tell us he was safe in Sapporo. He already had a love for the Sapporo mission president and seemed to be doing good. I felt his voice sounded tired. Wade (his dad) thought he sounded just fine. Elder Ovard said the Sendai missionaries were all over the place. They were staying in the mission home and in nearby apartments. Elder Ovard was with Elders in a nearby apartment. I said are you sleeping on the floor? He laughed and said, "Mom, I always sleep on the floor." I thought that was so funny. He sleeps on a futon.
Elder Ovard said that he was bussed from Morioka to Aomori and flew to Tokyo and then they flew fromToyko to Sapporro. This was different than how I was told he arrived in Sapporo. I thought that he took the ferry accross. I asked how they are able to accomodate all the missionaries. He said there is a Costco there in Sapporo and they fed all of the missionaries pizza the night before. Elder Ovard was very amazed at how much money the church was spending on the missionaries.
I feel like a new missionary mom again. I am anxiously awaiting his email. I want to know where he is serving. Who his companion is and if they are integrating the Sapporo and Sendai missionaries together. Elder Ovard will be serving in the Sapporo mission for an undetermined amount of time as they assess the radiation problem.
Our love and prayers go out to all the missionaries serving in Japan. This disaster has caused them all to adjust. We are also very grateful to the mission presidents for thier service and Christlike love that they show the missionaries and the people in Japan. We know they must be so tired and they still go on serving the Lord. I am grateful Elder Ovard has this opportunity to learn from there amazing example.
The next day Thursday March 18th at 3 in the morning Elder Ovard did call us to tell us he was safe in Sapporo. He already had a love for the Sapporo mission president and seemed to be doing good. I felt his voice sounded tired. Wade (his dad) thought he sounded just fine. Elder Ovard said the Sendai missionaries were all over the place. They were staying in the mission home and in nearby apartments. Elder Ovard was with Elders in a nearby apartment. I said are you sleeping on the floor? He laughed and said, "Mom, I always sleep on the floor." I thought that was so funny. He sleeps on a futon.
Elder Ovard said that he was bussed from Morioka to Aomori and flew to Tokyo and then they flew fromToyko to Sapporro. This was different than how I was told he arrived in Sapporo. I thought that he took the ferry accross. I asked how they are able to accomodate all the missionaries. He said there is a Costco there in Sapporo and they fed all of the missionaries pizza the night before. Elder Ovard was very amazed at how much money the church was spending on the missionaries.
I feel like a new missionary mom again. I am anxiously awaiting his email. I want to know where he is serving. Who his companion is and if they are integrating the Sapporo and Sendai missionaries together. Elder Ovard will be serving in the Sapporo mission for an undetermined amount of time as they assess the radiation problem.
Our love and prayers go out to all the missionaries serving in Japan. This disaster has caused them all to adjust. We are also very grateful to the mission presidents for thier service and Christlike love that they show the missionaries and the people in Japan. We know they must be so tired and they still go on serving the Lord. I am grateful Elder Ovard has this opportunity to learn from there amazing example.
An email Sister Dotson sent her mother
I just heard from my daughter Sister Rachelle Dotson and she is now in the
Sendai area- she was in Osaki when the quake hit.
Here is part of her email
"so I was riding my bike when the earthquake hit. I heard it first then felt
it. I got off my bike and crouched down. The car in front of us was rocking
back and forth, lifting off the ground. There was a canal next to us where
the water was splashing at least 10feet over the sides. We were next to a
field so we crawled there, hugged each other and said a prayer. After the
big earthquake the earth kept moving for the next two days. Even today,
there are still small quakes. The ground had given way in a lot of places.
But even though everything inside our apartment was trashed, our apartment
was okay. We did not have running water for two days, but yesterday it
started again. But we have been without electricity or cell phone usage
since then. We slept with our clothes on and the door open so that we could
leave if another big earthquake hit. We visited members during the day and
helped clean up the church. But we still did not have electricity so when
the opportunity came to!
go to kamisugi I took it. We had food, so we were fine."
What a relief it is to know where she is (in Kamisugi and northern suburb of
Sendai), that they have food and water and that they were able to get back
to their apartment. I am so grateful that she can dress warmly now.
Sendai area- she was in Osaki when the quake hit.
Here is part of her email
"so I was riding my bike when the earthquake hit. I heard it first then felt
it. I got off my bike and crouched down. The car in front of us was rocking
back and forth, lifting off the ground. There was a canal next to us where
the water was splashing at least 10feet over the sides. We were next to a
field so we crawled there, hugged each other and said a prayer. After the
big earthquake the earth kept moving for the next two days. Even today,
there are still small quakes. The ground had given way in a lot of places.
But even though everything inside our apartment was trashed, our apartment
was okay. We did not have running water for two days, but yesterday it
started again. But we have been without electricity or cell phone usage
since then. We slept with our clothes on and the door open so that we could
leave if another big earthquake hit. We visited members during the day and
helped clean up the church. But we still did not have electricity so when
the opportunity came to!
go to kamisugi I took it. We had food, so we were fine."
What a relief it is to know where she is (in Kamisugi and northern suburb of
Sendai), that they have food and water and that they were able to get back
to their apartment. I am so grateful that she can dress warmly now.
Monday, March 14, 2011
WOW
Crazy. That explains it. I`m doin good though. As far as I know all of the missionaries have been accounted for and are doing well. It`s been quite the experience though. That was definitely the biggest earthquake I`ve ever felt. We were at the church preparing for a lesson when we got a warning text message about an earthquake. Sure enough, 5 seconds later, we have an earthquake goin on. We were on the second floor of our church so we rushed down and outside. There is a high school right next door and everyone from the high school was rushing out too. It was huge!! It`s hard to put a time frame on how long it lasted because everything was crazy and what not, but I would say it lasted at least about a minute. It was like a movie or something. The swans and ducks in the nearby pond were going crazy too. Everything in our apartment was all over the place, and we were out of electricity and water for over a day. We`ve been trying to contact the missionaries in our Zone with the little contact we have through our cell phones for the past 2 days. Everyone is doing ok. Miyako, an area in our Zone, was really affected by the tsunami. We wer all really worried about the Elders but they were finally able to make it safely over here to Morioka. Miyako is destroyed though. I saw pictures and it is brutal. Hard to believe, let alone be living only a 100 miles away!! They are doing good now and we are thankful to be with them. The quakes have calmed down today, but we have been feeling them constantly for the past 3 days. We had our bags packed and clothes on during the night just in case another one came. Things have pretty much just been all over the place. People have been rushing to grocery and convienient stores to load up on food and I don`t think there is much left. We are well supplied though. Our ward has taken real good care of us. We did gather on Sunday and had a sacrament meeting with about 20 people. We have been trying to contact everyone and make sure everybody is good well. Things are alright here in Morioka. It gets scary as you move towards the ocean. The tsunami`s have caused lots of damage that we can hopefully help clear up. We don`t really know what our plan is from here but we`ll definitely do anything we can to help as there are a lot of people in need. We are really grateful to be alright. We appreciate your prayers and concern on our behalf. I will try and keep updated. Take Care!!!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Sister Imamiya in Iwaki
Sister Hiroko Imamiya is a sister from Iwaki. This is the first area Blake served in. She was so good to Elder Ovard and is always good to all of the missionaries. We became friends on facebook. I emailed her to see how they were doing in Iwaki. Iwaki is located south east of Sendai. They have had a lot of earthquakes in her area. Iwaki is located on the coast. This is the last email I recieved from her. Our sweet Bishop Mitchell suggested we have a fast for the people in Japan today and another member in our ward who is suffering with an illness. I told Hiroko that we were fasting for them.
Dear Sister Heather,
I'm so so glad that Elder Ovard and all the missionaries safe.
Thank you so much for your praying and fasting for all the people in Japan.The aftershocks last every day and I'm so scared.I heard that we will experience a big aftershock within three days.
We can't use the tap water after the earthquake and don't have enough food and water. Many people died in Tsunami. I can't believe it. I'm so sad.I'm praying for everyone.
People in Tomioka were exposed to radiation in the power plants accident. Maybe we are exposed... because we live in Iwaki......I don't know.
I can't contact everyone because the line is very busy.
I will do my best.
Thank you so much again.
Your e-mail encourage me a lot.
Love,
Hiroko .
I have shared with her the information I have heard from the news. I have tried to calm her fears of the radiation and let her know that help is on its way. I hope the missionaries will now be able to serve her as she has been so good to serve them.
Dear Sister Heather,
I'm so so glad that Elder Ovard and all the missionaries safe.
Thank you so much for your praying and fasting for all the people in Japan.The aftershocks last every day and I'm so scared.I heard that we will experience a big aftershock within three days.
We can't use the tap water after the earthquake and don't have enough food and water. Many people died in Tsunami. I can't believe it. I'm so sad.I'm praying for everyone.
People in Tomioka were exposed to radiation in the power plants accident. Maybe we are exposed... because we live in Iwaki......I don't know.
I can't contact everyone because the line is very busy.
I will do my best.
Thank you so much again.
Your e-mail encourage me a lot.
Love,
Hiroko .
I have shared with her the information I have heard from the news. I have tried to calm her fears of the radiation and let her know that help is on its way. I hope the missionaries will now be able to serve her as she has been so good to serve them.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
8.9 Earthquake in Japan
Hello all our dear family and friends!
Thank you so much for all of your concern for Elder Ovard. It has been a long day and night since hearing the news of the devistation in Japan. Elder Ovards mission is the Sendai, Japan mission where the epicenter of the quake was. He is currently serving in the city Morioka. Your calls and text messages really helped our spirits. We appreciate your love.
When we heard the news Friday morning we immediately went straight to the computer to email him and look for any word from him. I was able to see immediately on a missionary mom website that they had heard the Elders and Sisters in Morioka were safe. This was very calming but still we worried so much for the other Elders. My thoughts also turned to Elder Ovards emotional welfare. I knew he must be busy reaching the Elders in his zone. I was very grateful that he has other Elders to look after hoping it would take his mind off of himself.
Through out the day we watched for an email. Especially when we knew he was awakening for the day (I don't know if he even slept.) We waited all day and still no email. I kept watching the missionary mom site and later in the evening most moms were recieving emails. At 11:30 last night I did recieve a call from church headquarters. They are doing a fabulous job reaching the missionaries given the poor communication service that they have in the area. The gentleman at church headquarters informed me that unfortunately they are unable to locate Elder Ovard. My heart sank. I said he is in Morioka (knowing that the Elders and Sister there were safe.) He said oh Morioka. I also said his companion. Have you heard from him and they had heard from Elder Narita. This was comfort to me. I knew he was with Elder Narita. The brother on the phone sounded a little uneasy with our call. I hung up confident and also very scared (I know that sounds wierd.) We prayed for some answer of surety that our son was safe. I knew he was safe, but I knew at that moment what the other mother's must be feeling.
At 12 midnight the phone rang again. It was church headquarters. They confirmed that Elder Ovard was safe and accounted for and someone had spoken to him. Our prayers were answered. What a relief and a stream of Happy Tears began to flow from all of us.
Through out the night we kept our phones on hoping for some news from Blake. At 5:45 we recieved a message via Wade's cell phone. It was short saying, he was safe and It is Crazy and what is the news back home. They sent a few text messages back and forth. Blake is by a radio listening for updates. I think we know more than he knows about the earthquakes. He doesn't have electricity and the water is running again. He is in his apartment. They are still feeling the earthquakes and starting to get use to the feeling. He asked us to call him and gave us his number. We are unable to get through. We wish we spoke Japanese because we get some message recorded in Japanese when we try to call.
We feel at the moment that he is a little nervous. He is waiting for direction as to what to do next. We are anxious for him to be able to start working and helping people. I know he will feel better then when he is serving.
We are still so grateful he is serving a mission in Sendai, Japan. We know that the Lord will strengthen him and help him to serve his brothers and sisters there. This work is a work of miracles. These young missionaries have the help of our Heavenly Father and it is so evident in the confidence our Heavenly Father places on them.
I have confidence in my Heavenly Father that Elder Ovard will be protected and used as an instrument in bringing the salvation to all men. This gospel of Jesus Christ is true and needs to be shared.
Keep all the missionaries in your prayers. I know they feel the strength from your prayers. Elder Ovard say, "Keep praying for me."
Lots of Love,
Heather Ovard
Blakes mother
Thank you so much for all of your concern for Elder Ovard. It has been a long day and night since hearing the news of the devistation in Japan. Elder Ovards mission is the Sendai, Japan mission where the epicenter of the quake was. He is currently serving in the city Morioka. Your calls and text messages really helped our spirits. We appreciate your love.
When we heard the news Friday morning we immediately went straight to the computer to email him and look for any word from him. I was able to see immediately on a missionary mom website that they had heard the Elders and Sisters in Morioka were safe. This was very calming but still we worried so much for the other Elders. My thoughts also turned to Elder Ovards emotional welfare. I knew he must be busy reaching the Elders in his zone. I was very grateful that he has other Elders to look after hoping it would take his mind off of himself.
Through out the day we watched for an email. Especially when we knew he was awakening for the day (I don't know if he even slept.) We waited all day and still no email. I kept watching the missionary mom site and later in the evening most moms were recieving emails. At 11:30 last night I did recieve a call from church headquarters. They are doing a fabulous job reaching the missionaries given the poor communication service that they have in the area. The gentleman at church headquarters informed me that unfortunately they are unable to locate Elder Ovard. My heart sank. I said he is in Morioka (knowing that the Elders and Sister there were safe.) He said oh Morioka. I also said his companion. Have you heard from him and they had heard from Elder Narita. This was comfort to me. I knew he was with Elder Narita. The brother on the phone sounded a little uneasy with our call. I hung up confident and also very scared (I know that sounds wierd.) We prayed for some answer of surety that our son was safe. I knew he was safe, but I knew at that moment what the other mother's must be feeling.
At 12 midnight the phone rang again. It was church headquarters. They confirmed that Elder Ovard was safe and accounted for and someone had spoken to him. Our prayers were answered. What a relief and a stream of Happy Tears began to flow from all of us.
Through out the night we kept our phones on hoping for some news from Blake. At 5:45 we recieved a message via Wade's cell phone. It was short saying, he was safe and It is Crazy and what is the news back home. They sent a few text messages back and forth. Blake is by a radio listening for updates. I think we know more than he knows about the earthquakes. He doesn't have electricity and the water is running again. He is in his apartment. They are still feeling the earthquakes and starting to get use to the feeling. He asked us to call him and gave us his number. We are unable to get through. We wish we spoke Japanese because we get some message recorded in Japanese when we try to call.
We feel at the moment that he is a little nervous. He is waiting for direction as to what to do next. We are anxious for him to be able to start working and helping people. I know he will feel better then when he is serving.
We are still so grateful he is serving a mission in Sendai, Japan. We know that the Lord will strengthen him and help him to serve his brothers and sisters there. This work is a work of miracles. These young missionaries have the help of our Heavenly Father and it is so evident in the confidence our Heavenly Father places on them.
I have confidence in my Heavenly Father that Elder Ovard will be protected and used as an instrument in bringing the salvation to all men. This gospel of Jesus Christ is true and needs to be shared.
Keep all the missionaries in your prayers. I know they feel the strength from your prayers. Elder Ovard say, "Keep praying for me."
Lots of Love,
Heather Ovard
Blakes mother
Sunday, March 6, 2011
WARMING UP!
Hey everyone! Hope all is well and that everybody`s doin good back home. Things have warmed up a little bit over here and the snow is just about gone. It did snow yesterday morning but it melted right away so that`s always good. I can`t wait for Spring and Summer!!! There is a beautiful lake right in front of our church that has been frozen since I got here and it is finally starting to melt so I`m way excited!!! From what we hear, it`s one of the prettiest sites in the mission :) There are tons of swans and ducks in it as well. Elder Narita and I have been running to it and around it in the mornings. There is a season in Japan called the `sakura` when all the trees blossom and everything looks beautiful so I am hoping to stay here in Morioka until then!!
Not a whole lot has happened since Wednesday. We were down in Sendai Friday and Saturday for Zone Leader Council. It was awesome. I love going to the mission home and recieving training from President. He`s amazing. There is also a mountain close-by that we go on Friday evening to pray. It is always such an awesome experience. Although it is evening and you can`t really see a whole lot, it is still a lot like the `sacred grove`. It`s a forest and everything is beautiful and green. There definitely is power when we go to a quiet place and pour out our hearts to God.
Fred came to church yesterday, and we were finally able to get him to understand the Restoration!!! We were able to get a hold of the French version of the dvd, watched it, and he understood! It felt so good haha. He is still scared about being baptized soon, so we testified hard to him that he needs the Holy Ghost as soon as possible. He knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that our message is true, he`s just gotta take the leap of faith and get in the water! He`s a real awesome kid though and I love him. Unfortunately Rika and her kids weren`t able to make it to church :( They were planning on coming and then Sunday morning we got a call and she said that her baby girl had a fever so she wouldn`t be able to make it. I was heart-broken. We were looking so forward to having them at church and teaching them the Plan of Salvation. It was a bummer but they are still doing good. She is reading and praying everyday and is noticing the difference it is making in her life. Hopefully we can meet with them sometime this week!!
That about does it for the week. Tomorrow we have Leadership Training here in Morioka with the Zone so it will be fun to get with everybody again. Things are going well and I thank you all for your love and support. The church is true :) Bye Bye
Elder Ovard
Not a whole lot has happened since Wednesday. We were down in Sendai Friday and Saturday for Zone Leader Council. It was awesome. I love going to the mission home and recieving training from President. He`s amazing. There is also a mountain close-by that we go on Friday evening to pray. It is always such an awesome experience. Although it is evening and you can`t really see a whole lot, it is still a lot like the `sacred grove`. It`s a forest and everything is beautiful and green. There definitely is power when we go to a quiet place and pour out our hearts to God.
Fred came to church yesterday, and we were finally able to get him to understand the Restoration!!! We were able to get a hold of the French version of the dvd, watched it, and he understood! It felt so good haha. He is still scared about being baptized soon, so we testified hard to him that he needs the Holy Ghost as soon as possible. He knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that our message is true, he`s just gotta take the leap of faith and get in the water! He`s a real awesome kid though and I love him. Unfortunately Rika and her kids weren`t able to make it to church :( They were planning on coming and then Sunday morning we got a call and she said that her baby girl had a fever so she wouldn`t be able to make it. I was heart-broken. We were looking so forward to having them at church and teaching them the Plan of Salvation. It was a bummer but they are still doing good. She is reading and praying everyday and is noticing the difference it is making in her life. Hopefully we can meet with them sometime this week!!
That about does it for the week. Tomorrow we have Leadership Training here in Morioka with the Zone so it will be fun to get with everybody again. Things are going well and I thank you all for your love and support. The church is true :) Bye Bye
Elder Ovard
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Everything Stays the Same!
Elder Ovard and Narita at the ice sculptures in MoriokaI forgot to mention it last week, but I have awesome news!!! Shiga, one of my investigators from Tagajo, was baptized last week!!!! Yay!! I got a call from the 1st counselor in the Tagajo ward a couple days before the baptism and it was as happy of a day as I`ve ever had. I was so excited!! He is such an awesome man. I learned so much from teaching him and am so grateful for the opportunity I had to meet with him. I thank my beloved comp Juchau Choro in Tagajo for finishin off the job ;)
Have you all read this months Liahona?? I`ve looked into it a little bit this past week and it is awesome! There are some real good stories but one of my favorites was from Elder Kikuchi, the Japanese, of course:) He has a really good article and talks about a food called `tofu` that he used to make. I want you all to know that I eat that stuff everyday and I love it! Haha it`s always fun to connect :)
So we had an awesome week of missionary work. We had 4 investigators come to church!!! One of our new investigators, Rika, came with 3 of her kids. She actually only has 2 kids, but her niece is also living with her. Her niece and son, both 10 years old, are investigators as well. She also has the cutest little baby girl I`ve ever seen in my life!!! It was their first week at church and I would say it was a good one for them to come. President and Sister Tateoka came to the ward and spoke during sacrament meeting. Afterwards we taught them the message of the Restoration. They are so good!!! I called Rika earlier in the week to see how things were going for her and she told me she had been reading the Book of Mormon everyday and was praying morning and night. She said that if she forgot to pray, she would hurry and do it right away. Wow!! As we taught them the lesson, I was amazed at how smart the kids were. They asked really good questions and understood everything well. We committed them to baptism and they accepted, but we weren`t able to make a date. They all want to come to church next week though so we will meet with them then. They are so amazing!!!
Fred is also doing really well. We have been working really hard with him to understand the Restoration and we were finally able to get him a French Book of Mormon so I think that will help. He speaks his Madagascar language, French, pretty good English, and is learning Japanese. Wow!! He is still a little nervous about being baptized so soon, but I do think that he will feel the Spirit and know that what he is doing is right. He is such a good person with a big heart!
We have other investigators as well, but as of now, those are our strongest and most hopefull ones. It is such a blessing to be able to meet with them and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. There is so much confusion and termoil in the world today and the gospel is really the only place we can find the true happiness and joy we all want. I`m so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve a mission so that I can come to understand that. I love you all and thank you for all your love and support. Take Care.
Elder Ovard
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