Will you get baptized in 15 years?

Well first of all tranfers. I'm staying in Morioka with Burrows Shimai! This will be my third transfer in this beautiful place.

Burrows Shimai's depiction of us! She did this in 20 minutes. So talented!

WE MADE A BAPTISM DATE

Got to go on splits with my beloved Jacobson Shimai! We made a baptism date with one of our friends Ichikawa San! But here's the kicker, it's scheduled to take place on August 25, 2033 after she retires. I've got a feeling I won't be in Morioka during that time, but you can bet we will be following up with her!

Mount Iwate at sunset! Check out that gradient.

A NEW APPROACH

I hope this blows your mind as much as mine did when I first heard this. President Sekiguchi introduced a new approach in inviting people to be baptized. 

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true..."

If you take a closer look at Moroni 10:4, you might notice this scripture invites us to ask if these things are NOT true. 

At a recent zone conference we practiced the following approach when inviting people to be baptized. Usually missionaries invite people to pray about baptism followed by the promise that they will feel it is "right" whether it be through a spiritual manifestation or warm feeling. But more often than not, people may not be able to recognize that "warm feeling". Instead we are asking them to pray and if they DON'T receive a bad feeling, to please get baptized! 

Learning this approach has helped me better recognize the spirit and receive direction in my personal life. If the light isn't red or yellow than it's always green! God will never allow us to make a wrong decision without giving us a warning first. If we don`t receive a warning we can move forward with full confidence knowing the Lord supports our decisions!

WE MET THEM BY CHANCE

We were walking the steets of Morioka with our good friend Yukari San when we randomly ran into the Elders. After talking with them for a couple minutes we received the impression to introduce the Elders to Yukari's boyfriend who lived close by! We did so and he is now an investigator. Goes to show that God places us where we need to be at the right time! 

Met up with some old friends! The lady next to me is my mom's college friend Ito San! The other two are her daughter and son. It was great to catch up them!

My prayers are with you all! 

Church is true.

Love,

Matsuura Shimai