Ricky Attends SOAR at BYU

SOAR stands for Summer of Academic Refinement and is a college preparation camp sponsored by the multicultural student department at BYU. During the camp, everyone prepares for and actually takes the ACT test and has a lot of fun in various EFY type activities. Ricky and James just returned from spending nearly a month in Utah. They both attended basketball camps and Ricky had a great time at SOAR. He is second from the left in the picture below. One day they hiked up to the Y on the mountain.

Ricky certainly looks like he got a lot smarter at the camp!

They had trip to Temple Square where they watched a movie and toured the grounds.

Ricky in the back row middle.

Fun time

Mario! Mario! Mario!

Banquet night was a dressier affair.

Apparently there was some studying that went on. Nice feet!

Now it is back to the humid summer of Japan for the boys. We are glad to have them home.

Sister McIntyre's Baptisms and Report from Asahikawa

If you recall Sister McIntyre found a young girl several weeks back and challenged her to be baptized even before they started teaching the lessons. She was able to see Mio baptized this week along with another wonderful sister. Here is her letter and pictures from the Sapporo Mission.

Hello everyone!! How are you? I am wonderful! We had two wonderful people baptized this past Saturday. This past week helping them prepare was such a joy and blessing. Ueda-san, age 68, was baptized July 11 at 2pm.

Her children live far away. Her mother and little brother passed away while she was young. Anyway, she is all alone. What got her most was the plan of salvation. Saito Shimai told her that through being baptized, she could meet with her family again. One week when she had come to church, the Relief Society lesson was on temples and temple work. There she learned that we could help others with their saving ordinances. There, Saito Shimai explained to her that after she is baptized, she can go to the temple and do those ordinances for her family, in which they will be able to meet again in the celestial kingdom. At that time, we didn't know how much she was actually listening, or understanding, but after her interview with the Zone Leaders, she told us that she is doing this for her Mother and Little Brother. What a joy it is that through this Gospel we can be with our families forever, that death is not the end. When we were deciding with her what the hymns for the baptismal service should be, she wanted "God be with you til we meet again." As we sang that song at her baptism, the spirit was so strong. She will be able to meet her mother and brother again. What a wonderful truth.

Mio was baptized July 11 at 11am. She is such a pure, sweet young girl. After she was baptized she expressed that she just felt so much lighter. She is so obedient and so happy. And I know that this gospel is just going to make her THAT Much happier. Eternally. President Daniels actually called the night before and asked if he could come, and so we had the privilege of having him at one of our baptisms. This gospel is so wonderful, and there are SO many people ready to hear it. OH! one more piece of good news. Nishimura Megumi is an old investigator. We had found her name from the Potential Investigator list and gave her a call a few times. Before I came Saito Shimai had made an appointment with her, but she cancelled last minute. I called her a few weeks after being here and she picked up and we got an appointment. She is out of our area, so we thought if she is interested, we'd pass her off to the Elders in that area. We met with her and taught her, and then met with her one more time and passed her over to the Elders. It's been about 3 weeks and the Elders finally were able to teach her again (she is really busy with work.. 22 years old-ish). Well, last night we get a call from those Elders and they said, "thank you for referring her. She is getting baptized!!" We were so happy for her and them. And we were so grateful to have the opportunity to play a small part in the process. We both felt that she was truly prepared. She seriously has met the missionaries like 5 or 6 times. This work is awesome! =) Anyway we are now out to find those who are prepared.

Oh, and my twin that I met on the street yesterday. She lives in Okayama. Same age as me, and she's seen the missionaries a lot in Okayama. Anyway we got her number, and I will try and pass her over to the missionaries there. Hope you have a great week. I LOVE YOU ALL!

Sister McIntyre

July 2009 Convert Update - July 12th

Here are some recent photos from the field.Sister Ka Rina from Nabari with Elders Monson and Akina. Also pictured are Brother and Sister Akino from the Nabari Branch. Elders McBurney and Manning with Brother Shimoura Kazuhiro in Shimogamo, Kyoto.

Elders Lytle and Hobson in Yamato Koriyama with Brother Sakamoto Kazuteru.

Elders Harris, Kanno and Kimura with Brother and Sister Kamiyama (and some of their family)from Abeno.

Kobe Sister's Conference - July 2009

This past week we had all our sisters in Kobe for a training conference. This transfer we have an historic high 15 sisters serving in the mission. Two go home this coming transfer.
All the sisters arrived in Kobe to start at 10am. Fortunately, most can make it to Kobe in about an hour or less. The morning started with each companionship sharing a 10-15 minute training or "best practice" they have learned about finding, teaching or being an effective missionary. We strove to apply D&C 88:77 and instruct each other in the doctrines and principles of the kingdom.After lunch, Sister McIntyre had a few minutes with the sisters privately so she could discuss issues related exclusively to being a sister missionary. Before we started up the afternoon session, Sister McIntyre also gave each sister an apron she made. The sisters all signed them for each other. A wonderful group of missionaries! These sisters are sure to be great wives, mothers, teachers and leaders in the church.

Sisters Tsuda and Yamada serving in Sakai taught about how to use study time more effectively to plan and prepare to teach lessons for investigators.

Sisters Hayase and Meyers serving in Abeno taught how they find using eikaiwa pamphlets to lead a conversation to a gospel topic.
Sisters Yamashita and Kurashita serving in Hirakata do a little skit based on the "woman at the well" and then taught about the importance of companionship unity.
Sisters Kogawa and Kobayashi who also serve in Hirakata sang a little ditty about the Book of Mormon and taught about the how they help investigators learn from the scriptures. They also showed a picture book they created to help teach young investigators.

Sisters Glenn and Kina serving in Kobe taught about getting commitments and how to ask effective questions to help investigators understand the importance of the gospel message. They shared a great song they wrote.Sisters Inoue and Kaneko serving in Okamachi shared part of their training through music. They also did a role play to show how we need to smile when teaching and respect investigators beliefs while teaching them the truth.Sisters Webb, Notsu and Ho serving in Shimogamo, Kyoto shared with us how they held a mini MTC in their ward to help the members understand the principles and program missionaries follow as found in Preach My Gospel.Talk about too many cooks in the kitchen. Try having 15 sister missionaries in your kitchen all at once! Sister Ise prepared Hawaiian hay stacks for lunch and everyone seemed to love it. It was a great day and the sisters were uplifted and instructed. In the afternoon, president shared some training from PMG that the sisters can apply not only now as missionaries, but once they return home and prepare for marriage as well. The afternoon ended with testimonies and the sisters were all back in their areas for lessons and proselyting by dinner time. In addition to our Sister's Conference we travelled to Nara on Monday and interviewed the missionaries there and Tuesday we spent the day in Kyoto interviewing the 15 missionaries in that zone. That evening while in Kyoto I met with the Kyoto Stake President and the zone leaders in our monthly correlation meeting.

July 2009 Begins!

July began with missionary interviews this past week in several areas. We travelled to Fukuchiyama for interviews and my regular meeting with the District President. Then we held interviews in Kobe for several of the missionaries serving in the Kobe Stake and the zone leaders and I met with the stake presidency in our monthly coordination meeting. On Friday we travelled to Hirakata in the morning and interviewed the district there and then drove over to Abeno in Osaka and held more interviews. We interviewed 20 missionaries that day which is a few more than I like to do in one day! That evening in Abeno we had a special training meeting for all the bishoprics and ward mission leaders in the Osaka Stake. The purpose of the meeting was for me to provide training on Preach My Gospel and to better help the local leaders understand the program we are following. Ultimately we desire and need to be more unified in our missionary efforts. The training went well and I think the stake president's and my objectives were met. But the meeting started at 8:30pm so everyone could attend after work and we did not finish until nearly 11pm due to questions and discussion. We arrived back in Kobe at about midnight.Saturday we drove to Kyoto for the baptism of Koga-san. It was a great service. He was found several months ago by Elders Bahr and Moore. Elders Williamson and Drake continued to teach him and baptized him. He is a teacher, single and in his early 30's. He is going to attend the All Japan Single Adult conference next month. His next goal is find a nice sister to take to the temple!After the baptism, we drove to Iga Ueno in the Nabari area which is in Mie prefecture and spent the night. We got there around 10pm. Sister McIntyre went to bed, but I enjoyed the onsen bath before retiring. The next morning we attended the Nabari Branch. This is a small branch in the Osaka Stake, but pretty far out of Osaka in the mountains bordering the Nagoya Mission. They meet in this building on the 4th floor. Nabari is a beautiful place with lots of rolling green hills and rice fields in the valleys. It was fast and testimony meeting and we both were able to share testimonies. This is a wonderful branch and we felt a great spirit there. They usually have around 30-35 people attend including missionaries and investigators. This Sunday there were 40 or more there including 9 investigators. Elders Monson and Akina called many people they are teaching and invited them to church to meet us. The branch has a baptism scheduled for next Sunday for Ka Rina pictured here with us. She is a Chinese speaker from Northern China/Mongolia. She is really excited to join the church.
Here are some other pictures from recent baptisms. Elders Ashmore and Sorenson baptized Brother Takase in Takatsuki ward this past month. Bother Nakamura of Katsura baptized his 15 year old daughter Reina as well. She was taught by the Shimogamo Sisters Webb, Notsu and Ho.

Transfer Focus- President's Message June/July 2009

This past transfer, we have been focusing on the small and simple things we should do as missionaries. We are also continually striving to become more like Christ as we serve as His missionaries. In order to become more effective Preach My Gospel Missionaries, we should look to the scriptures for examples and clues as to how to apply gospel doctrine and missionary principles. This will help us know what those small and simple things are that we should do. Once we identify, learn and understand the doctrines and principles in the scriptures, we must then liken them unto our situation and efforts here in Japan as missionaries. To “liken” means to create a mental bridge between understanding the doctrine and living the doctrine. (See PMG p. 110) President Packer taught that true doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. (See PMG p. 19) As we study the scriptures and come to understand true doctrine, we will change, our investigators will change and the members will change. This is not only applicable to doctrine, but also to principles of missionary effectiveness such as finding, teaching, building trust, etc. found in the scriptures and Preach My Gospel.
In our zone conferences this month, we will study four specific passages or stories in the scriptures so we can better understand the doctrine and liken the scriptures to our efforts here in Japan.
1. John 4 – The story of Christ and the woman at the well
2. Acts 8 – The Story of Phillip and the Eunuch
3. Acts 17- Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill
4. Alma 17 -18 – Sons of Mosiah and Ammon with King Lamoni
These passages of scripture demonstrate some wonderful principles of missionary work and they feature some of the greatest missionaries of all time. Before you study these chapters, pray for the Spirit to open up your mind to understand better the missionary principles taught in these chapters. Then, as you read, have your Preach My Gospel and study journal with you and take careful notes as to what the Spirit teaches you. Cross reference the scriptures with PMG and pay particular attention to clues that will help you become a more effective finder, teacher and missionary. Think about what these passages are teaching you about natural conversations, talking with everyone, find when you teach and teach when you find, asking for referrals, following the Spirit, teaching for understanding, preparation and planning, the importance of and the qualifications for baptism, building trust, the power of service, who will accept your message and many more wonderful principles and concepts from Preach My Gospel. Remember, Preach My Gospel is a tool to help us better understand the scriptures and apply them to our work as missionaries.
As we come to better understand these doctrines and principles in the scriptures and then begin to liken them to our service as missionaries, we will become more effective missionaries.
We are truly seeing the work move forward here in the Japan Kobe Mission and I know it is because of your great faith and diligence as missionaries. We are grateful to each of you for your hard work and sacrifice each day. May the Lord continue to bless you and this mission with great success!
Love President and Sister McIntyre

Journal Entry Sunday June 28th - A Great Missionary Day in Kyoto and Our One Year Anniversary as Mission President in Kobe

Today was a great day. I felt more like a young missionary than mission president. We attended two baptisms and taught a lesson with two of our elders to a wonderful woman they have been teaching. It is hard to believe a year has past since we arrived in Kobe. We arrived June 28, 2008. So it was our anniversary as well. We now have two years left to further establish the church here in the Kobe Mission!
First thing in the morning, we travelled to Kyoto and attended the baptism of Brother Soga of the Fushimi Ward. He was taught by Elders Shattack and Jones and was referred to them by Sister Matsui. Several members joined in the lessons and helped the missionaries teach him over the past few months. The Matsui family had many of the lessons in their home. This is the way it should be done. The members in the Kyoto Stake have really been catching the vision of missionary work and we are beginning to see the fruits of those efforts.(Sister McIntyre poses in front of the Fushimi Kyoto Ward Building)
Brother Soga was very prepared and shared a humble testimony after being baptized. We are grateful to the Matsui family and all those others that helped Brother Soga prepare for this day.
(Fushimi Ward Baptism for Brother Soga. Pictured here with Sister Matsui and the Fushimi Elders Shattuck and Jones)
After the baptism in Fushimi we quickly made our way to Joyo which is about 30-40 minutes away by car. We made it just in time for Sacrament meeting.
(The Joyo Ward Building, Kyoto Stake)
After Sacrament meeting Elders Budge and Iwasa asked us to join in their lesson with Kamitsuji-san, a 53 year old woman that has been to church 4 or 5 times and is seriously studying the gospel. Today the elders taught her about prophets and the word of wisdom and we committed her to obey the word of wisdom and prepare for baptism. The lesson went very well and we were all able to testify often. Tears were shed by many. She certainly felt the Spirit and expressed a desire to follow Christ. After the formal lesson, Sister McIntyre continued visiting with her for some time, after which we drove her and the elders to Fushimi for the baptism of Brother Yamashiki. She expressed a desire to see a baptism before she commits to a firm date.(The Joyo Elders Budge and Iwasa with President and Sister McIntyre)
It was a special experience to teach with Elder Budge as he was one of our youth back in Tokyo when I served as a bishop and in the stake presidency. He is now a trainer in the mission. Elder Iwasa has only been out for a few weeks. Both Elders did a great job. Sister McIntyre and I felt great about the lesson and felt that Kamitsuji-san is one of the elect prepared to accept the gospel. She told us that she had been pondering about many questions of the soul when Elder Budge and Elder Stennett, his last companion, knocked on her door. We were able to testify to her that we know the Spirit led them to her and it was not a coincidence that they found her at this time. She shed tears as we testified and agreed that she believed it was true. (Katsura Ward (Kyoto) Baptism for Brother Yamashiki at the Fushimi Ward house. Pictured here with Elders Williamson and Drake and Sister Inoue)

After the lesson we drove back to Fushimi where the Katsura Ward was holding their baptism for Brother Yamashiki. This was a great service. Brother Yamashiki was introduced to the gospel by his neighbor, Sister Inoue. The Inoue's have known him for about ten years. Last October, Sister Inoue felt inspired to ask him to attend a church activity. This was first time they had ever done so. To her surprise, he said yes, and admitted that he was curious about the church they attend. Soon after attending the activity, he started taking the lessons from Elders Williamson and Drake of the Katsura Ward. Sister McIntyre and I both had the chance to share our testimonies at the baptism. We expressed our gratitude to Sister Inoue and the other members for introducing and fellowshipping Brother Yamashiki. I shared several scriptures from D&C 18 about the worth of souls and how great your joy will be if you bring save one soul unto Christ. I had just read that section in the morning during my scripture study and I felt it applied perfectly to these baptisms. Both were member referrals. How great will be their joy together in the kingdom of God! And the small and simple act of just inviting a friend to a church activity has had an impact on their lives for eternity. The Lord can work great miracles by small and simple means.

Elders Williamson and Drake had a couple other investigators at the baptism. The Joyo Elders also had Kamitsuji-san there. There is no greater way to teach about baptism than to have your investigator attend a baptismal service. Koga-san, who is being taught by Williamson and Drake, was there and confirmed his baptismal date for next Saturday. We have met him several times over the past few months and he asked us to attend his baptism. So it looks like we will be back in Kyoto next Saturday night for more of this wonderful stuff!

So today was a good day. We saw people repent and come unto Christ and others commit to do so. We were able to testify often and teach with our missionaries. I cannot think of a better way to commemorate our first year here. We did not get back to Kobe until after 8pm. We forgot to eat lunch and dinner as we were busy all day. After meeting with the assistants back in Kobe and getting all the weekly reports in, we were very prepared for a good nights rest. The gospel is true and it changes lives. We see it everyday.

Zone Leader Council Held in Kobe - June 2009

In Zone Leader Council we prepared for zone conferences which were held this past week throughout the mission. All Zone Leaders prepared training to be presented in their respective zone conferences based on the training and discussions we had at this council. We currently have 9 zones in the Kobe mission. Each zone has an average of 10 to 12 missionaries. Each zone is made up of 2 or 3 districts led by a District Leader. Each district has 4 to 8 missionaries. I have chose to keep the zones and districts smaller to allow the missionary leaders to really focus on supporting those the serve. Zone Conferences are held once each transfer (every six weeks) and are presided over by the president and district meetings are held weekly under the direction of the district leader.

Miracles in Asahikawa - Sapporo

As we strive to become Preach My Gospel missionaries, we have really emphasized our purpose as missionaries (to find, teach, baptize, confirm and establish the church). On page 40 in PMG it states that we should not hesitate to challenge people to be baptized in the first or any other lesson we teach. Our Area Presidency has challenged us to also be bold in this effort. When the people we teach understand that we are simply helping them find out for themselves the gospel is true, and we are teaching them the process and how to do it, and that baptism is the way to repentance and the gate they must enter, it is easier to set up return appointments and get commitments from investigators. We have been focusing on this in Kobe for sometime now and the missionaries are starting to really get it. Currently we have an historic high number of people with baptismal dates in the mission. Certainly some of them will postpone and a few may drop off, but more people will come unto Christ and all of those we teach know clearly the purpose of our meeting them. The teaching process does not change. We do not baptize anyone until they are ready and meet the requirements. But the quality (in terms of interest in the message) of the people we teach increases greatly. We know that the other missions in Japan are doing the same. We were delighted to get the following email from Erika in Sapporo where she shares a wonderful example of the power of doing this and following the council of our leaders and PMG. See her story below!Sister Erika McIntyre with her new companion Sister Saito in Asahikawa, Sapporo Mission. Preparation day activity. And a zone photo below with President and Sister Daniels.

This may be short, because we are about to have a Zone BBQ!! BUT I have to tell you about Mio. We met her last week Tuesday, as I wrote last week.. and we made the appointment for Thursday. We recently were taught to state our purpose boldly and at the first of the lessons (to prepare those to receive the fullness of blessings through faith, repentance, BAPTISM, Holy Ghost and enduring to the end).
So of course following that, we planned our lesson for Mio. We also decided to set a baptismal date goal immediately after we pick someone up, so we as missionaries can plan according to some sort of goal. We decided she could be baptized July 11. So on Thursday, we met her, and began with a prayer. But before going into lesson one, we talked about missionaries and how we come here for a year and a half. And then stated, "through this Gospel we have received so many blessing as well as our families. We have felt God's love and guidance and want others to feel the same. We want all people to receive the blessings God has in store for them. In order receive them in a fullness, baptism is required. Through baptism, we and our families can receive all the blessings God has in store for us. Our purpose is to help those we meet prepare for Baptism."
Okay, so most Japanese people do not understand the word "baptism".. so this works very nicely. After we finished that, Mio asked, "so what is this.. baptism?"
Perfect.
So then we pulled out pictures of baptism. (Saito shimai has one from her own, and I have one of Chrispy with his investigator when he served in Samoa--thanks Chris!!) we showed her the pictures and told her that we too, received baptism 15 years ago. We testified of the blessings, then asked, Mio, would you like to receive baptism? She answered, "yes! I'd like to see what sort of blessings are in store!" We then told her, "we have a lot to teach you, but we think that you could be baptized 7/11. " And she agreed.
We then started teaching lesson 1. This is the first time ever I have set a baptismal date before even teaching any lessons. The Lord TRULY blessed us. Also, Mio, is absolutely amazing. She wanted to come to church, but only could come for the first hour (which was relief society), because she had work. We didn't know what to do, because we really wanted her to be able to attend sacrament meeting. When she called we expressed to her that all the classes are wonderful, but the most important is sacrament meeting, and if she could maybe go to work 2 hrs later. She answered, "well, that might be hard... hmm... " We kind of worried...
then she said, "I'll ask my boss!" Well turns out when we called her on Saturday, her boss said okay, and she was able to attend all 3 hours of church!
This week truly was a blessing, and I am so grateful for the Lord's help. When we do missionary work, we really are nothing, nothing but TOOLS in the Lord's hands. I know that none of it could be done on my own.. but with God nothing is impossible! =) I will keep you posted on her, and on our other investigators. as for now I better head out!
Love you all so much!
Sister Erika McIntyre

In a note I just got from President Daniels, he said Erika and Sister Saito just got another person with a baptismal date as well. The program works when it is followed!

More Baptism Pictures from the Field - June 2009

Here are a few pictures just in from the field.

Elders Lytle and Hobson in Yamato Koriyama Ward baptized Sister Tanaka Honami this past week.

Brother Sugiyama was baptized in the Sakai Ward, Osaka Sakai Stake. He was taught by Elders Obata and Kunihiro.

Above, Kojima Kyodai was baptized in Amagasaki Ward by Brother Nakase a recent convert baptized in March. Elder Shoaf and Elder Ashdown taught him with Elder Tupou who is not pictured.

This is Yumisashi Shimai of the Kawauchi Nagano Ward. She has been waiting for months to be baptized and was taught by several elders during that period. She was finally got her wish this month. Pictured here are some of the elders who taught and worked with her. Elders Fa'aleilei, Williams, Jorgensen, Christensen, Burton and Howells.

We are still waiting on some pictures.

Some More June 2009 Transfer Week Photos

Departing group June 2009. This a better picture than the one previously posted. New missionaries June 2009 after signed the mission quilt. These were big groups!

Elders Christiansen, Fishler and Beecher gave me this cane for my birthday in March. They reminded me that we never posted a picture of it on the blog. So here it is. Hand painted with a bell to make sure people get out of my way!

We will miss these elders. Elder Fishler is still here for one more transfer though!