Keiji Nakamura's baptism!

**MUST READ**

Yesterday is up there on greatest days of my life. Also one of the most stressful. This week we spent a ton of time with Nakamura teaching and preparing him for baptism. I'm not being modest but I really don't think we did much... We planned a lot for him, shared our testimonies and used the Book of Mormon and church pamphlets to teach. It really doesn't even feel like we were the teachers. He just tried his hardest and God did the rest. So happy and proud of him.

As I explain, it may sound like I am saying too much but it was a special day, so I don't care:) The baptism was after church so everything started out decently normal, though we had to do a ton of prep. Plus there was a lot of stress as 7 non members came to church, one of which was our friend Ken Kimura! Riyou, the kid who got baptized last week, received the Holy Ghost which was great for all those people to see and later hear it explained in a talk and lesson afterwords. During church I strongly felt the spirit. Sitting next to Ken and Nakamura just made it even better. Right after church though? Things got real. I had the great honor of baptizing Nakamura. Though I got pretty nervous as I changed my clothes in preparation. Not only was it my first time but it also was in Japanese... Since the baptism last week had to be redone 3 times, there was a lot of people telling us to get it right this time. As if that wasn't enough stress we were scheduled to sing a song before the baptism that is pretty hard and we hadn't practiced once... I said a prayer in the bathroom that I could calm down and that everything goes smoothly haha.

At the meeting I sat up there with Elder Terry in our white clothes almost in shock that it was happening as I looked over to see the Sisters investigator Wada and Nakamura waiting to make the biggest and best decisions of their lives. Elder Johnson did an intro for Nakamura who stood next to him shaking his head furiously and saying "no" after every compliment or kind word. I laughed through most of that. He is insanely humble. Before everyone went downstairs for the baptism the other missionaries and I sung thee song to the two getting baptized. It's a popular one at baptisms here and basically says we knew each other before this life and we promised we would come find you (the investigators) on earth and teach you the way back to Christ. I will never forget what happened next. I heard a noise halfway through the first verse. I looked up to see the large 44 year old Nakamura sitting there in all white who I never thought would cry, considering how hard his life has been, balling his eyes out. Sobbing almost. He looked confused what was happening as he looked out the window with the sun shining on his face. A feeling that he has never felt but was so familiar. I didn't need to ask, I was sure he was feeling God's love.

My heart skipped so hard as I saw this. We make promises to everyone that if they try their hardest they can feel that love and know God exists and that this is his church. A lot of times people don't give it their all, just don't care, or it takes them a long time. To see it happen right before me as we sung an unpracticed song that probably didn't sound the best? Priceless. There is nothing else a grown and callused man like him could be feeling to make him weep like that than the love of God and a confirmation from the spirit. This church is true, he felt it, and I felt it again as I saw it. If this church is true and so are its teachings? This is the only place we can find all the truth, happiness, and correct ways to enter the gates of heaven and live eternally with our Heavenly Father again. Tell me that's not important... For any of you reading, church member or not, I plead with you to further investigate the church (through prayer, reading the Book of Mormon & attending church) find your own answer as Nakamura, me and so many others have. Prepare to take your next step no matter where you are. From being baptized, to going on a mission, or repenting, to going to the temple... Now is the time!

Nakamura is everything the scriptures say, "broken heart, contrite spirit, no hypocrisy, real intent, wanting to believe." He has nothing that can be seen, but has it all as to what really matters. He is super poor, doesn't really have a job, barely manages to eat and dress himself, low self confidence, but yet has eternal happiness and life. He has everything he needs. I think he realized that for the first time yesterday, that this life is about finding happiness and that's what God wants for us.

We were both nervous beforehand but as we went into the baptismal font we both felt at peace. I felt a lot of power behind my voice as I said the blessing and we got it right the first time. Afterwords in the bathroom we shared a big, soaking wet hug. He later shared his experiences in the meeting. He is actually great at making people laugh haha. He said that he heard kind things from us that day that he hasn't ever heard even from his own parents :( His life has been so hard. I was surprised how much he talked about me. He talked about how he was surprised to see us at the door 3 years after he had once met missionaries. He talked about how I disagreed as he said that it was a coincidence but that it was instead God's guidance. He also talked about how I taught him his favorite thing, CPR (come to church, pray, read scriptures) haha. I sat alone away from everyone after the meeting and watched as people came to congratulate the new church members. So great to sit there and continue to feel the Spirit telling me that the two of them made the right decision, didn't want it to end. It's a great feeling to know you have had a large influence on someone's life. What a blessing.

I could write more about my week, but I want to leave it at that.

I love you guys <3

pics

1. Day before the baptism

2. Us missionaries with Wada and Nakamura

3. <3

4. He was pretty nervous lol

5. He hates pictures haha

6. The baptism last week, Daiki baptized his best friend Riyou

7. Zone meeting

AYYYYOO

WAAAZZZZZUP

I want to start by talking about a young men in the ward here, Daiki. I talked about him a while back. We hung out with him last transfer after he got in some trouble at school and was hesitant about serving a mission. I shared a lot about my personal experiences in deciding to serve and encouraged him to figure it out. Later he told me he wants to go on a mission as soon as possible because of missionaries examples. Around that same time he brought his best friend to church who started meeting the other missionaries here. His name is Riyou and Daiki became a big example for him... Well yesterday Daiki baptized Riyou. You can just see Daiki's  happiness in making an eternal friend and strengthening his own testimony. You can do the same for others and yourself, sometimes all it takes is an invitation.

It was funny Daiki had to redo the baptism three times. The first time he said the prayer wrong and then just threw Riyou in the water super fast and fell in with him and splashed the first row of kids haha. Hopefully that didn't scared my friend Keiji Nakamura because he is getting baptized this week! As well as the the sisters investigator, Wada. Three in one week here in Yamate, craziness!

I'll give you the Nakamura update now. We met Wednesday and taught him the Ten Commandments. He had no problem with them and the bishop here joined us and did a great job helping. We were pretty scared because the bishop here is one of the most fiery people I have met and goes too hard sometimes. Nakamura admitted to us that he drank at his Grandmas funeral thing and he felt terrible. He prayed the next day and felt ok, but THEN he read the Book of Mormon and felt amazing. He reads it and just finds answers and teaches himself. It's just been the biggest blessing. Read the book guys! Nakamura went off about how we HAVE to do ALL three things of CPR (come to church, read scriptures and pray). It was so dope. We just can't stop smiling when we meet with him. He is way funny too, says the funniest stuff over text.

Then next lesson on Saturday started off good. He hasn't drank since that slip up and is committed to continue resisting. We planned to teach tithing, read the first page of the pamphlet and he told us he thinks it's a good thing to pay tithing and makes sense, but doesn't think he can afford to do it financially. We told him to consult with the bishop which should be happening this Wednesday. That was about 15 minutes in. Then the member that was with us there talked about blessings and prayer. Nakamura admitted he doesn't pray for blessings for himself. He is so humble that it almost hurts him a little. He is too hard on himself. He went off about his depression and even said he might as well go to hell. The member went pretty hard telling him the gospel and God's plan is so that he can be happy, but if he doesn't ask for blessings he won't get them. He went a little too hard and we watched Nakamura close off more and more. I had trouble following it all and didn't get a word in. Elder Johnson was able to testify a little. We came out of that lesson feeling pretty crappy. That member is one of the best men I have ever met, we were shocked he went off. He is really concerned that he doesn't pray for blessings he is in trouble. We really left that lesson feeling crappy and stressed. Though things turned around a little that night as we went to an event held by our mission president where we watch Indiana Jones and he talks
about faith. Then we texted him that night Either 12:27. He told us for the first time he believes everything. I think it helped him to kinda hit the bottom then read the scripture and see why we have trials. Then he came to church and saw the baptism and finally got close with a couple members!! He still seems committed. We think his actions show that he wants blessings. Maybe he doesn't realize it and is too humble to outright ask for blessings but he also is asking for help and answers in prayers and I would say those are blessings. He is looking great.

At the event with President Wada he has the biggest person trust fall with the smallest. Well that happened to be me and my first companion Elder Nagano! What's funny is about a year ago when we were companions he came to Tokorozawa for the same presentation. I don't think Pres. remembers but Nagano and I did it then too. Pretty ironic and nostalgic. I may have shed a tear ;)

President also came to Yamate for interviews and to join in our district meeting. I learned a ton from him. I love president. He also bought us all food <3 He basically told us what's happening next transfer. He said we are both staying, but not together... The other two elders we live with are going to America. One because he got his visa one because his mission is over. A bunch of people leaving at once is bad so one of us will hop in their position. Though you can't ever trust president.

Also our weekly basketball activity had a huge turnout. About 14 people there between missionaries, members and non members.

Anyways, love and miss you guys! I don't have a lot of pictures BUT (mom listen up) I tried cutting my own hair in the bathroom and actually did really good!! Check out the pics.

Sorry I forgot to send this!!

Another great week guys!

To start where I left off though... The Filipino I met last week, Kelvin, stood us up at the train station and won't  answer our calls. I have no idea what happened. Just two days before he was so stoked to meet. That was kinda sad but it's all good!

Nakamura is still so solid. He struggles a lot with money so early in the week we dropped by his place and gave him a beanie. It's so cold, he didn't have one and has been getting sick. He was way thankful and since then I haven't seen him without it :)

We taught him about the restoration of Christ's church, focused on prophets, how we need to follow them. Which helped us talk about Joseph Smith and the word of wisdom this week. He had read the pamphlet on the commandment we gave him before hand. He had studied it really hard and had a ton of questions for us, wanted to make sure everything was ok: Cooking with Alcohol, Wheat tea, Fish, Meat, etc. it's funny he thinks things are a lot stricter than what they are. One awesome thing he said is that because he has tried to limit his alcohol and caffeine consumption it has made him more sensitive. So when he drinks caffeine he gets really happy and  energetic and he was thinking it might be a drug. We told him it's his choice but caffeine is ok as long as it doesn't become a problem. Though what he said is very applicable to anything we do. If we expose ourselves to harmful substances or activities it numbs us. It decreases our ability to decipher right from wrong. Just something to think about. At the end of the lesson he gets really serious, says something along the lines of, "I have something to ask, it's not a secret, I just don't like to talk about it." He seemed really nervous and worried. He seemed like he was trying to figure out the most tactful way to tell us what was coming... Of course we are on the edge of our seats and worried he is going to bring up a large problem... Then he just says it... "I like boxing... NOT fighting, just the sport, it's fun and good exercise and...." Haha we assured him it's ok if he likes boxing lol. He is just so pure hearted and humble, it's so great.

Other than Nakamura we got to meet again with our friend Ken Kimura before English class!! He is so hard to teach because he isn't fluent in English or Japanese. He doesn't have a native language, it's way sad. Though I love that kid to death. He is also super humble, trusting and pure. We also were able to meet with the Catholic man Tai. He was actually really rude to me, I don't know why haha. Sometimes it's hard to give love when you aren't receiving it at all but it's ok, he's a good guy. He didn't let us teach him anything but we finally got his number so we can set up meeting times rather than just trying to visit him all the time..

We met with one of our American family friends and took turns sharing our thoughts and feelings about the Book of Mormon. Just a classic testimony session. As I spoke about the Book of Mormon I could feel the Spirit testifying that it's true. Therefore I know it is and that knowledge grew more this week.

Pics

I won't number them but we went to the sickest park. We got stuck listening to a 2 hour tour in crappy English from some guy that just would not stop talking haha. We learned a lot though lol. I guess some super rich silk farmer built the whole park 300 years ago. The homes have been preserved for all this time. The man also brought in some famous homes from other parts of Japan to have them in his garden. The homes are portable because they don't use nails. The boards fit together like a puzzle. Insane. In one picture a tree has formed a perfect face on its self, completely natural.