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!

Recent Converts!

Sisters Ho and Yamashita taught and baptized Sister Sou Pou in the Shimogamo Ward, Kyoto Stake

Sisters Kobayashi, Kogawa and Kurashita taught and baptized Sister Maeno Momoda in the Hirakata Ward, Osaka Stake.

Elders Shoaf and Shepley baptized Brother Onishi in the Sekime Ward, Osaka Stake.

We love to get these great pictures from the field that remind us why we are here!

Transfer Week - September 2009

Transfer week began by welcoming 9 new missionaries to Kobe. 3 came from the JMTC and 6 from the US.

The new missionaries front row- Sister Hattori, Elders Everett, Nielson and Thayer. Standing are Elders Ishihara, Suzuki, Hauwiller, McLaws and Neff.

6:30 am morning exercise with the new missionaries and office staff. We had a great run up the mountain to Maruyama Park. Not an easy run uphill.
Sister Hattori and Sister McIntyre getting ready to head up the hill.

The run (walk for some) up the hill.
Then when you think you are there, you have to do the stairs to the top. Sister McIntyre and I run up several times a week when the weather is nice. It is nice to have missionaries go with us especially on transfer week. It is worth the work as the view of Kobe and the bay is great from the park. They also have a track and obstacle course at the park.Of course coming down is much easier!Nothing like a good breakfast after your morning workout, study and prayers. The office staff and our office couple, the Pypers, join us with the new missionaries on the morning of transfers. The new missionaries were introduced to their new companions and left for their areas after 1 and 1/2 days of orientation and training. This is a great group and we have great expectations for them.

Right after lunch and the new missionaries' departure to their first areas, we interview the returning missionaries and enjoy a final dinner together. Sister Ise and Sister McIntyre made tempura this time. After dinner and a final testimony meeting, we have dessert and Sister McIntyre gives them a card with a special message on it.

In the morning before sending them off to Tokyo to catch their plane, we invited them to join us on our morning run as well!After the run and breakfast, we take final pictures and say goodbye. This was a first, spelling "Kobe" with the missionaries. We bid farewell to 4 great missionaries this week. Sister Kogawa, Elders Castleton, Shattuck and Harris. After pictures we drove them to Shin Kobe Station where the caught the bullet train for Tokyo. And a new transfer begins!

Pictures from the Field

Akashi Ward in the Kobe Stake. Brother Yoshida was taught by Elders Fukui and Homer. Umemoto Kyodai was taught and baptized by Elders Kudo and Castleton in the Senboku Ward, Sakai Stake. Elders Budge and Iwasa taught and baptized little Shina Katayama in the Joyo Ward, Kyoto Stake. She is 9 years old.

In Abeno, there was a double baptism with Sisters Hayase and Notsu teaching Sister Nagao and Elders Harris and Bowman teaching and baptizing Brother Kitaoka.

We are still waiting on more pictures!

In addition to the training we had in Korea this past month, we had the chance to attend two stake conferences in August. One in the Sakai Stake and the other in the Osaka Stake. We spoke at both conferences and enjoyed the interaction with the members and leaders. August was just about an average month for convert baptisms in the mission which is not bad considering it is a major vacation time for the Japanese. It is a hot and humid time for the missionaries to work in as well, but the work did not slow up at all. We have increased our efforts in working with less active members and part member families and we are now starting to feel the benefits of those efforts. While convert baptisms have increased from direct missionary contacting like housing and streeting this year, we are now also starting to see an increase in member referral and part member family baptisms. Overall we are very excited about the blessings we are receiving as a mission, yet we know we can do better, especially as we work closer with the members.

Kobe Flower and Bird Park

The boys are back in school so for preparation day we took a few hours and went to a great bird and flower park on Port Island in Kobe. The flowers were beautiful, but we enjoyed taking pictures of all the exotic birds. We start a busy transfer week tomorrow so this was a nice way to relax. Enjoy the pictures!

Now that is a Lily pad. These were really cool. If the weight is evenly distributed, they can support up to 100 kilos. We decided not to try though.

This one kept poking me in the side.

Ever wonder how ducks can walk on water? It is easy when you step on the fish.

The ducks were a little annoying. They followed us around and pulled on our pant legs until we would feed them.

Rika made a lot of friends.

This was her favorite duck.

There were many more kinds of birds and gorgeous tropical flowers hanging from the ceilings. We were surprised it was so nice and that there was such a wide variety of birds. I did not post any pictures, but they had an owl collection that was quite impressive. Owls from all over the world, 30 or 40 different kinds. Enough about the birds. Back to the missionaries!

Special Transfer - 4 Missionaries Return Home With Honor!

This week we had a special transfer for four elders who have completed two years, but needed to get home before the regular transfer date to start school. Elders Steele, Schmidt, Swartz and Throop all departed on the 21st after two years in Kobe. We had a nice meal, testimony meeting and a trip to the park to view the night lights of Kobe the night before they left. In the morning, the four elders went on a morning run with Sister McIntyre and I up the mountain and to the river.
James and Ricky started school this week and look real excited about it in this picture from dinner. James was not happy he had homework on the first day back! Nevertheless, the food was delicious. Two kinds of Gyoza, stir fried meat and veggies, chili shrimp and chicken, salad and mango sticky rice.Elder Throop was given an apron from Sister McIntyre for his service in the mission office after his bike accident. She claims he was her first APW or Assistant to the President's Wife. Elder Throop finished his mission strong after healing and was eventually transferred back to the same area where the accident occurred, Hanayashiki, as his final area. A great group of elders. Regular transfers are the first week of September and we will be welcoming 9 new missionaries and 4 more return home.