Great Baptism in Amagasaki!

Elders Nielson and Monson baptized Brother Kinjo in the Amagasaki Ward, Kobe Stake. He is a second year college student and was truly prepared to hear and accept the gospel. This baptism was extra special for us as two other recent converts (from this year) participated in the baptism. Brother Nakase (next to Sister McIntyre below) and Brother Kojima (in the middle) were both baptized this year in the same ward. Brother Nakase is currently 16 and recently spoke at stake conference. Brother Kojima spoke on baptism and shared a great testimony at this baptism. He will be 19 next year and is already planning to serve a mission. He was baptized three months ago. What a blessing it was for us to see them together at this baptism for Brother Kinjo. Immediately after the baptism, Brother Kojima said to me, "It is nice to have another friend in the gospel." I replied, "Yes, let's find many more!" Find, Teach, Baptize, Confirm and Establish the Church. That is our purpose and I felt like we are doing that in Amagasaki.

Earlier this week we had the chance to stop in Mikunigaoka and meet with Miyazaki-san and Sisters Glenn and Ho. Miyazaki-san is ready to be baptized this weekend and we are excited for her.

This was wax the mission vehicles week. I think the office elders and assistants really enjoy this assignment.

I always wondered what Sister McIntyre does while I interview the missionaries. I still don't really know, but Elder Ashmore looks like he is having a great time!At our last zone conference the zone leaders, Elders Obata and Capener, did not turn in their apartment cleaning checklist so they chose their own punishment during lunch. They did push ups while singing the mission anthem. I think the song was longer than they thought.

Zone Conference in Wakayama!

The last zone conference of this transfer period (held in Wakayama) was great. The missionaries had a great time and I believe they were inspired and well taught by each other. The morning was time for Sister McIntyre and I to teach and share testimony. The afternoon, like the other conferences this transfer, was filled with the missionaries using creative methods to teach each other the doctrines of the kingdom and principles of effective missionary work. Again we let them have some fun with this.

The Wakayama Zone

The Sakai Zone - forgot to remind them that we do not allow hand signals/signs in official mission pictures! Although I have been known to do the Japanese "piece" sign once and a while myself.

In these shots the missionaries were practicing teaching while their companions held a mirror to their face. It was an interesting experience for them to see how they look when they teach. (how the investigator sees them) They learned a lot about the importance of body language and facial expressions when teaching.

Below, Elders Capener and Obata teach a principle from PMG.

Elders Williams and Payne teach about using your talents to find people. They have an investigator scheduled for baptism next week they first contacted and got a return appointment when Elder Williams showed a magic trick.

Elder Imai and Remund taught about being bold without being overbearing. Elder Imai demonstrated the difference between a missionary with the Spirit and a missionary who was like a overbearing policeman. Where do they get these ideas!

Sisters Kina and Kurashita, who are both from Okinawa, shared with us how they contact people the Okinawan way.

Elders Magleby and Kunihiro taught us about the 1-2 punch of teach, teach then testify.

Elders Honda and Andrews shared a skit about being bold with Elder Honda acting and Elder Andrews on the keyboard.

Elders Jones and Imi shared a song and taught us from PMG.

Sisters Glenn and Ho shared some great object lessons about baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost with Elder Solomon as a volunteer.

The next zone conferences will not be until the end of October after next transfer. The best practices this time were fun and a nice change of pace. The missionaries shared some great ideas and concepts. We were amazed at their talent and creativity. We are now in full swing traveling around the mission doing interviews.

Kobe and Akashi Zone Conference - September 14, 2009

We completed another zone conference for the two Kobe Zones. Again we had some fun and let the missionaries share their best practices through demonstration, role plays, songs and skits. One more conference to go in Wakayama this week.

The Kobe Akashi Zone

The Kobe Zone - less two office elders who attended a previous conference so they could man the office today.

Elders Christie and Tupou share their dendo fire through a musical number.

Elders Monson and Nielson share principles from the scriptures and Preach My Gospel.

Elders Fukui and Shinozaki teaching.

Elders Hinton and McLaws demonstrate the principle of keeping your line in the water! In other words, talking with everyone everywhere!

Elders Novak and Tibbs on "bear"-ing testimony.

Sisters Inoue and Meyers quiz the elders.

One of the highlights was Elder Christie tempting Elder Kodama to not open his mouth and speak to the elect (Sister McIntyre). Fortunately he was protected by the whole armor of God!

Elders Mau'ai and Ishihara taught us about several proselyting principles in PMG.

Elders Aguirre and Rhan share their presentation.

Kobe Stake Conference and More Pictures From the Missionaries!

This past weekend we attended the Kobe Stake Conference. Rika and I spoke in both sessions. I also had the opportunity to address the priesthood leaders in a separate session on Saturday. In the Sunday session, on the front row of the chapel sat 6 men who were baptized earlier this year. 4 of them were presented to be advanced to the Melchizedek Priesthood and made elders. Another young convert (16 years old) spoke in the session. Other new converts sat in the congregation. Rika spoke before me and in tears, addressed each of these brothers. We had the opportunity to attend most of their baptisms and have come to know some of them fairly well. What a blessing it was for us to see the church being established in the Kobe Stake. Our work (missionary work) does not end with these wonderful baptisms. These brethren were greatly stregnthened by the members and through the Kobe YSA Outreach Program. We are grateful we have been blessed to see this unfold here.

Here are some new pictures from the field!

Mamoru Sakata was baptized in the Higashi Osaka Ward. Here he is with Elders Johnson and Starks.

Brother Kubota was baptized in the Kawachi Nagano Ward. He was taught by Elders Solomon and Kimura until the week before his baptism. Elders West and Suzuki joined them after transfers.

Elders Obata and Capener taught and baptized Brother Hoshiyama in the Sakai Ward.

And young Brother Adachi was baptized in the Toyooka Branch by Elders Oshima and Mizuguchi. Pictured here with them is also Brother Miyamoto who is originally from Toyooka, but attends Himeji ward in the Kobe Stake. He was one of the brothers to become an elder at stake conference.

Two Zone Conferences Completed

As part of Zone Conferences this transfer, we are following the counsel found in D&C 88:77-78 to "teach each other the doctrines of the kingdom." We had each companionship share a "best practice" or something they have learned recently related to becoming a more effective missionary and fulfilling our purpose. We have included a few pictures of this in action below. Parents, see if you can find your missionary in these pictures of each zone!

Above is the Osaka North Zone. Pictured with us in all these pictures is President Iwaki, counselor in the Mission Presidency.

The Fukuchiyama Zone

The Kyoto Zone

The Osaka Hirakata Zone

The Osaka Abeno Zone

Here are some notes on the white board from our study of Jacob 5 and the doctrines of the restoration and gathering of Israel.

Elder Childs shares a song with companion Elder Iwasa.

Some elders enjoying a presentation.

The Sisters from Abeno demonstrate and practice a finding skill on Sister McIntyre

Elders Everts and Everett teach some of the doctrines of Christ from the scriptures and Preach My Gospel.

Elders Cutler and Wiser teach the principle talking with everyone while demonstrating a Japanese handshake combined with bow.

Conferences were uplifting and a lot of fun. We have two more next week!

Zone Leader Council September 2009

Right after transfers we held Zone Leader Council in Kobe. We planned and prepared for the upcoming zone conferences and studied together how to be better leaders and missionaries. We will hold 4 zone conferences over the next two weeks. We are focusing our teachings in zone conference on the Doctrines of Christ as outlined below in our monthly message.

President's Message - September 2009

Summer is ending and the weather is beautiful. This is a wonderful time of year to be out talking with everyone about the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ!
In Preach My Gospel, we are taught by President Packer that “true doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behaviors”. To bring people unto to Christ, which is our purpose as missionaries, we need to help people make changes in their lives. This is done by helping them make and keep commitments that lead them to a life in harmony with the laws and ordinances of the gospel and the commandments of God. We help people make and keep commitments by Preaching the Gospel and teaching them the Doctrines of Christ.
In the Book of Mormon the Savior clearly declares His Gospel in 3 Nephi 27.
“behold I have given unto my gospel, and this is gospel which I have given unto you- that I came into the world to do the will of my Father...that I might be lifted up upon the cross...that I might draw all men unto me...” (see 3 Nephi 27:13-15)
The Gospel of Christ, what we preach, is the good news. The good news is that all men have been redeemed from the fall and given the gift of eternal life. The wonderful news is that Christ lives! He is our Savior and there is plan for us to return home and obtain exaltation. This is the message we share. Within the gospel can be found the Doctrines of Christ. A doctrine is a statement of belief, an eternal truth or teaching. Doctrines are supported by principles. Principles are natural laws that govern the outcome of our actions and choices. Understanding the Doctrines of Christ and living according to gospel principles will lead us back to our Heavenly Father.
Below are three Doctrines of Christ that are critical to our work as missionaries.
1) Christ, in 3 Nephi 11, declares His doctrine. This was the first thing He taught the people after His appearance. Standing before Nephi, He gives him the authority to baptize the people and commands him to do so after He ascends to heaven.
“...I will declare unto you my doctrine...the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me. And whoso believeth in me and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (See 3 Nephi 11:31-34)
All men must be baptized to be saved. There is no other way to exaltation. We must be bold in our invitations to come unto Christ and be baptized!
2) The prophet Alma as he leaves for his mission to the Zoramites, (who were formerly Nephites and members of the church) shares with us another doctrine of Christ. I call it “the doctrine of the less-actives”. In his pre-mission prayer Alma prays for “power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.” He says, “Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren...” (See Alma 31:34-35) Bringing souls unto Christ and preaching the gospel includes bringing back our brethren that have strayed. We must work closely with the members to help them bring the less-active members back to Christ.
3) Lastly, in Jacob 5 we have the wonderful allegory of the wild and tame olive tree. This represents the doctrine of the gathering of Israel and the restoration of the gospel in these last days. This Doctrine of Christ, which states the elect will be gathered, is the work we are engaged in. We read in D&C 29:7
“And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of my elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts.”
As we gather the elect, we graft back in the natural branches. Elders and sisters, it is my prayer we learn these doctrines and become bold in teaching them to the people of Japan. Liken the following verses unto yourselves.
"...call servants, that we may labor diligently with all our might in the vineyard...that I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other fruit...let us go to and labor with our might this last time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is the last time I shall prune my vineyard.” (Jacob 5: 61-62)
May we go forth and teach the Doctrines of Christ as we serve in the Lord’s vineyard!
President McIntyre

James' Saturday Baseball at Canadian Academy

Last weekend we were able to catch part of James' baseball game at school. He is below with the white writing on his shirt.
Taking some swings.

Playing a little left field. This is the first year James has played baseball. He is doing well. He is playing some on the "A" team in left field and first base back up and he also plays some on the "B" team at first base.

We ate some tempura and noodles after the game. It was delicious! I don't know why we only have a picture of me with my mouth open!