Serving in Sendai: Yuki's conversion story

Hello Everyone!

Purikura: Japanese version of photo booths that make people look like aliens

Hope everyone had a wonderful general conference weekend! We've haven't seen it yet here in Japan, but we'll be watching it this weekend. If anyone wants to send me spoilers I'll be okay with that :)

This week's email will be a little different from my usual ones. This week is my Mom's birthday (Oct. 5). In honor of her, I want to share her conversion story with all of you.

My mother first met the Mormon missionaries when her friend, Yuka Miyazaki, introduced them to her. Elder Knowlton and Elder Gray found the Miyazaki family after pulling out a map and feeling prompted to visit their area.

My mom started taking lessons soon after meeting the elders. She was somewhat familiar with the bible and loved to read, so when the missionaries offered her a Book of Mormon, she was more than happy to accept. After reading the first couple chapters of the book, she began to worry for the elders. "This is really hard Japanese," she thought to herself. "There`s no way these American elders can understand this book!"

So she made it her duty to intensely study the Book of Mormon in order to help these poor elders who she thought had no idea what this book was about.

At the next lesson, she sat the elders down and began explaining the Book of Mormon to them. The confused elders just looked at each other and thought, "Why is our investigator teaching us?"

In the words of my mother she said, "Every lesson I explained the Book of Mormon in easy Japanese way. I read and studied very hard for missionaries. I thought it was my responsibility to teach them."

My mother was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shortly after. According to her, it was one of the easiest decisions of her life because she knew it was true. She has remained faithful to the church since then and I've been able to witness her testimony grow over the years. Because of her decision, so many lives have been blessed, including my own. I know that I would not be in Japan serving the Lord if it wasn't for the example and testimony of my mother.

One person being converted to the gospel has the power to bless generations. That is what motivates me as a missionary - to talk to people, to bear my testimony, to promise blessings. When we share the gospel with someone, the impact will extend far beyond that individual.