The Light
"Japan Kobe Mission: A Zion Mission"
April 2000
"I am the light that ye shall hold up." --3 Nephi 18:24
As I'm writing this message the Area Presidency has returned to Salt Lake City for General Conference. As you may know, this is a special conference in that it is the first in the new Conference Center across the street from Temple Square. More importantly, it is the 170th annual conference of the Church and celebrates the 2000th birthday of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As I think about this, I realize what a wonderful time it is to be engaged in the work of the Lord in Japan. The people are increasingly ready to hear our message. The members are getting more and more involved in learning how to assist their friends and neighbors in learning about the Gospel. I attended the quarterly Member Missionary Coordinating Council (MMCC) on Sunday March 26th. At the MMCC, all of the Stake and District Presidents in the mission gather with the Mission President under the direction of an Area Authority Seventy to discuss needs of the stakes and the mission. You were paid a great compliment at this meeting. All in attendance agreed that relations between the missionaries and the members, especially the ward and stake lenders, are the best they have been in a long time. They see you as serious, capable, dedicated and a great assistance to them as they work with the members to grow the Church in this area. I was a very happy mission president as I listened to them express appreciation and confidence in you and the Future. At the coming zone conferences we will talk more about how we can be of further help to the leaders and members.
Your work to become powerful teachers of the first discussion is paying off. As I am writing this, I have heard almost every companionship in the mission present principles 1-4. Many, many companionships are teaching without using the lesson plan and are excellent in their presentation. I was impressed with everyone who presented. I felt the Spirit more than ever before. I know that those you teach are feeling it, too. Although not everyone will accept at this time, all are receiving a basic foundation in the Gospel that will allow the Spirit to work on them over time. We are finding serious investigators with this method and planting some wonderful seeds as we go. During this next round of zone conferences we will do some additional training which will complete the first discussion, allowing you to teach the doctrine in 30 minutes.
March has been a good month. We are working hard as a mission. The Lord is blessing us with more contacts, more investigators, more lessons. The harvest is His, but we are doing the right things to allow that harvest to increase.
Let me tell you again how happy I am and how much Sister Robertson and I love you. This is the work of the Lord. He will not fail us. I pray that we may continue to feel His power and Spirit in the work In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
President Robertson
Dear Wonderful Missionaries,
It's been great to meet with you in zone conferences, at interviews, and elsewhere and to hear how you an really mastering the short "presentation" version of Discussion 1. It seems to have already been successful in many areas. Your enthusiasm and wonderful spirits are contagious!
Well, have you seen the blossoms? Yes, they are coming--and so is spring. Speaking of spring.... Hayashi Choro, taught me an easy folk song that I am certain every native of Japan knows. Sometimes, though, I'll forget a part of the melody or a word, so I ask any Japanese person I'm around, stranger or not. I've been amazed at how good a "BRT" method this has become. And, people seem genuinely delighted to have a gaijin interested in leaning a well-known traditional folk song. So, gaijin senkyoshi, try it! See what results you get. Here are the words. Ask the next person you see for the melody. (This is also a quick way to figure out who can carry a tune and who can't!)
| HARU NI KITA HARU NI KITA DOKO NI KITA YAMA NI KITA SATO NI KITA NO NI MO KITA |
Don't get confused (kike I did) if you use this with your Eikaiwa class. We were to sing it and then translate it. Only problem was I wrote the last line, "NOMO NI KITA". It was great for a very hearty group laugh (spring is coming to the drink?-- or some such). But afterwards I taught them "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree" and of course served popcorn as a celebration of singing well in English.
The end of April begins "Golden Week". This week has several celebrations and almost rivals Oshogatsu for time off of work and school. April 29th was originally celebrated because it was the prior Emperor's Birthday. But, twelve years ago when he passed away, the 29th officially became "Green Day". It is to recognize ecology efforts and remember, perhaps, how Emperor Hirohito used to like to work in his garden.
May 3rd is another national holiday as well. Kenpo Kinen Bi celebrates the Japanese Constitution and respect for human rights. Then two days later is "Kodomo no Hi" (Children's Day) which is complete with all the colorful koinobori. (See the Japan Times Article included here.) The 4th is also being celebrated to connect the other two holidays. Many people will be outside during this time and streeting opportunities should definitely go up!
As for Eikaiwa ideas, you can certainly build a lesson or two around what people are doing to celebrate "Golden Week" You can also teach the difference between sacred and secular celebrations if you use some of the materials on Easter (April 23rd) that are included at the end of the newsletter. Easter is a great opportunity to share our message--maybe even a video segment would work in Eikaiwa classes. Be careful to prepare less advanced students with new vocabulary to listen for before you show any clip. And keep the showing on the short side so as to not lose interest. You could spend one Easter lesson on the sacred side and another coloring eggs or some such. If you need specific ideas for unique situations, feel free to call and I'll try to help.
In the meantime, please know that we love you and appreciate you. We hope that you me reaping the benefits of obedience with exactness. Interestingly, a weekly perusal through the white handbook can be an excellent reminder of the kind of obedience the Lord expects from his beloved servants. OK. Enjoy the spring in this great country with all these potential investigators!
Love, Sister Robertson
"And the Lord God hath sent his HOLY PROPHETS among all the children of men... that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive a remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy."
"My brothers...how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous LIGHT OF GOD... This is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this GREAT WORK."
We are HOLY PROPHETS, these instruments in the hands of God! His is HIS work and I love it. Look, to be honest I don't know why I've been called to be here but I do know that God has called me. I'm going to do my best to serve Him and all of you. I'm really going to need all of your support. I also know that God has called each and every one of you to be exactly where you are at this time. There are people that you can reach there at this time that no one else can. God knows that, and that's why He's sent you there! I want all of you to know that. If you're not quite sure about that, ask Him and He will tell you. We are His instruments. He will use us! Thank you for serving Him. This is my joy. I love HIM. I love you guys!
"Let brotherly love continue!"
Thanks! Elder Harmsen
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The new fufu is coming on the fourth of this month!!! They are the Pypers and they come from Salt Lake city! Please help them to feel welcome.
Just a thing from me to you. If your family gets a new address, please let us know here at the Honbu. Also, when you receive a letter asking you which date you prefer to return home on (you should get one several months before you go), please respond as soon as possible.
Thank you for your hard work and know that it does not go unnoticed or unappreciated.
Elder Wentz
Note: Elder Karner is so busy being the shinsetsu holder of purse strings that he opted to have a 3 minute interview with a "Light" staff reporter as opposed to composing his own hagemasu for April. So here is the basic contents of the interview.
Int: Do you have a message for the missionaries this month?
EK: Well, just three small, but important things to remember.
Int: OK, what are they? (love these profound questions)
EK: OK, first, when you use delivery service for luggage or bikes or whatever be very careful. There have been several incidents reported where missionaries paid too much.. The cost of the service is primarily determined by the weights of the item being sent. There are some measurements taken as well, but weight is the most important factor. 1 kilo=2.2 #'s. Recently a receipt for a couple of pieces of luggage listed the weight total of 2 pieces as 500 kilos. That would be more than 1/2 ton. It's not likely that two nimotsus weighed that much. They probably didn't weigh over 60 kilos total. Also, you will pay less (even though it supposedly takes a day or two longer in transit) if you use the cheaper service, "Yamatobin" instead of "Takyubin." You can tell the difference because along the left hand margin of the receipt Yamatobin is always written in katakana and Takyubin is always written in kanji. Experience tells us that often the items sent by Yamatobin arrive as quickly as those sent by the more expensive Takyubin.
Secondly a recent financial trainer from the Tokyo PBO reminded us and asked us to remind the missionaries that MSF is not meant to cover the following:
Any of the above purchases (and of course only number one is required) should come from any extra money you have brought with you or are sent while you are here.
(Interviewers Note: Please keep in mind that missionaries come from a variety of financial backgrounds and in an effort to be a Zion Mission we should be sensitive to how others may feel should we be excessive in our use of money for the above listed and other similar items.)
Thirdly, some missionaries have paid for costly repairs to bicycles unnecessarily. The Honbu has many spare parts that are in good working condition. Should your bike need a spare part it might be to your benefit to call and see if there is one already available before you purchase it.
Int: OK, so is that it?
EK: Yes. That's all for now.
(Interviewers Note: You could see from EK's eyes, however, that he wanted to cheer you all on to even more success. But, back to the books to keep us all solvent. Thank you, Elder K.).
Hello Everyone!
This is Elder Blatchford. I'm new at the Honbu and have taken over as Recorder from Hayashi Choro. I know that I have big shoes to fill, but I'll ganbaru. Minnasan, Yoroshiku Onegai Shimasu.
I have just a few things to ask of everyone to make things run ever more smoothly here as a Zion Mission. First of all, you DL's out there: Please make sure that you FAX me your DL Stat Sheets ASAP!! This means the following Monday at the very latest. You can mail them in too, but because they MUST be sent by FAX FIRST, this is rather redundant. Please fill in the Stats Sheets completely. If there are any questions about how, where or why, please call and we'll figure it out. Ganbarismasho!
Also, because a report goes in every week to Tokyo of the Convert Baptisms in the mission, I need all the completed baptism records to be faxed to me as immediately as possible.
Other than that, I just want to say how grateful I am for your work and your examples. May we be guided in all things by the Spirit of the Lord as we strive to bring ever more souls back to his presence.
Love, Blatchford Choro
How are you all, my beloved Elders and Sisters? I'm simply marvelous here, thank you.
Today let me start my message with several things that I have to ask of you:
I'm always grateful for youi marvelous work. May God's hand be upon you wonderful missionaries in the Japan Kobe Mission
With love, Elder Kirigaya
| Ochiai Fumie | 03/04 |
| Hattori Mitsutaka | 03/05 |
| Furukawa Tatsusei | 03/05 |
| Yamaji Eikou | 03/05 |
| Aino Rie | 03/05 |
| Kita Tatsuya | 03/11 |
| Shirai Kyoku | 03/11 |
| Aoki Yoki | 03/18 |
| Aoki Naoya | 03/18 |
| Barbossa Rakel | 03/20 |
| Osaze Ehinbare | 03/25 |
| Tanaka Shintaro | 03/25 |
| Yamashita Kenta | 03/25 |
| Nikawa Shunpei | 03/25 |
| Tirelli Jessica | 03/26 |
!!! Congratulations!!!
| Shuler, Heather | Payson, UT |
| Giles, Shelly | Montpelier, ID |
| Carlson, Jason | Murray, UT |
| Clark, Christian | Orem, UT |
| Mustard, Geremy | Houston, TX |
| Keyes, Matthew | Bainbridge Is., WA |
| Takai, Satomi | Saitama-Ken |
| Sugiura, Hideki | Chiba-Ken |
| Heywood, Matthew | Brigham City, UT |
| Clark, Ryan | Orem, UT |
| Tasi, Colin | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Linton, Trevor | Clinton, UT |
| Fairborn, Jenifer | Provo, UT |
| Smith, Cynthia | Susuin City, CA |
| Priddis, Naomi | Big Piney, WY |
| Garfield, Gordon | Tigard, OR |
| Nakano, Kirk | San Jose, CA |
| Saitoh, Akinobu | Tokyo, Japan |
| Aoyama, Mitsukuni | Hokkaido, Japan |
| Shinnae, Satako | Hokkaido, Japan |
| Scott Garcia | 04/02 |
| Nathan Miller | 04/04 |
| Dennis Anderson | 04/04 |
| Jon Kerr | 04/10 |
| Benjamin Huntsman | 04/11 |
| Ocimar Bellini | 04/12 |
| Michael Swensen | 04/14 |
| Ben Tutor | 04/19 |
| Takai Satomi | 04/24 |
| Mika Leauanae | 04/25 |
| Matthew Hafen | 04/26 |
| Derrick Kerner | 04/27 |
| Spencer Nielsen | 04/28 |
| Troy Lynn | 04/30 |