Elder Isaac Wardle's Mission Letters

  This week was awesome! Highlights: -Splits with Hemingway 長老 (Elder) -Exchange with Heemeyer 長老  (Elder) -Thanksgiving event! -Visiting members with 岩永兄弟 (Brother Iwanaga) -Impromptu Church tour! -Pokemon donuts -Temple day! READ THIS PART The main thing I want to focus on this week is Thanksgiving! I love Thanksgiving. Partially because of the food, but this week I've really appreciated the focus on gratitude. Gratitude is a fundamental characteristic of disciples of Christ!  To all the swimming friends this will be very famiiliar, but Coach Tom's phrase "gratitude is the oil of the brain" connects a lot to what I've learned this week.  Since the words of living prophets can say it much better than I can, here's my favorite clips from (then) President Uchtdorf's April 2014 message, "Grateful in Any Circumstances." Everyone’s situation is different, and the details of each life are unique. Nevertheless, I have learned that there is something th...

This week might have redefined the term "rollercoaster." Might have broken some OSHA codes with how dramatically we went from the sky to rock bottom. And back.  Highlights! -3 member meals! I've heard that member meals in Japan are super rare, but apparently we're breaking the trend -One member meal was an awesome role-play lesson! -Went to Bikkuri Donke (pictures below) -Got to teach about the Gift of the Holy Ghost to a member's son! -Friend came to church! (technically an hour late so he missed our Sacrament attendance, but he came!) -Met my comp's friend from a previous area (miracle) READ THIS PART This week I have spent a LOT of time pondering about the relationship between grace and character. As we strive to do our best to incorporate the attributes of Christ into our character, how does the grace and benevolence of Christ's atoning sacrifice make up the difference to all my shortcomings?  We are expected to help our fellow men, expected to be kind...

  Highlights: -exchange!  -Seizeria (super cheap awesome food) -Member meal! (best members ever) -Somehow managed to get rejected saying hello (we had a good chuckle) -Found out Sister Hanson is in my zone! (crazy small world moment) READ THIS PART  This week has been one of the happiest weeks of my mission so far. Despite an increased number of rejections! Mainly because of two things I've learned.  #1 Trusting in God includes trusting he can use you (you are not a failure), and  #2 Perfect love casteth out all fear.  The beautiful truth is that the Savior and Heavenly Father  love you.  They know your future! They want to help you. They are not in Heaven, holding a clipboard marking down every mistake and compiling our sins in order to hold us accountable at the last day. In fact, the very reason we are here is to make mistakes! Jesus Christ has  already paid the price,  for us to be clean again. It's not locked behind any doors. It do...

It's been a slow week of slowly progressing, but some crazy experiences! Highlights -Yakiniku! (Best thing ever) (unlimited good food) -Witness for a baptism! (So cool) -コンビニ (Konbini - Convenience store)  food READ THIS PART Today has been a day of DEEP reflection. I've pretty much been going about everything in the wrong way! Here I am with this incredible opportunity to be a representative of Jesus Christ and share His love with people! Unfortunately I'm not here to teach English class, or be just be an American buddy. We get to bring a message of eternal significance to people! I've been missing out on the chance to share that sweet, sweet love the Savior has for everyone.  Please know that God cares for you. To an extent that we cannot comprehend! You are never alone.  "Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotl...