February 17, 2014
[Note: The Yoshimoto family is in Henderson, Nevada
for our biennial Okazaki family reunion.
Sister Yoshimoto was given special permission to call us, let us take
her and her companion to lunch and to invite us to a special fireside to meet
her investigator. Sister Yoshimoto and
her companion were also able to teach her uncle and aunt and their daughter!]
Oi todo mundo!!!!<333
WOW! WHAT an amazzzing weekend! I can't believe it actually happened! haha, It was SUCH a blessing to be able to see
you all. Wow! I canNOT believe I was allowed to do that! It was seriously such a miracle and I'll tell
you why.
Story time:
So this week was a looooong week. It was fine.
I was excited and ready to find out the new transfer! On Wednesday,
I got a phone call from Sister Jensen-Coon in Green Valley. Apparently,
Mason--I don' t know if I wrote about him before--passed away from a drug
overdose. He had a lot of drug problems
and was in jail, but we were allowed to write letters to him and keep in touch
and keep teaching through letters and help uplift and what not. He was seriously so awesome. He had a hard time, but I truly got to see
his true change of heart. He believed it
all with all his heart. bore testimony to us and was just so amazing. He had
gotten out the day before and then was found dead of an overdose. They don't know what happened but believe it
was an accidental OD.... It seriously
broke my heart. It was harder, because I
wasn't with Sis Jen-Coon so the memories of Scott Bybee came flooding back and
no one around really understood. Then a
few days later, Friday, I found out another of our investigators passed away
from a motorcycle accident. It was just
one hit after another and I seriously felt like I was drowning. It felt like
everyone I grew to love so much and felt so connected to and had put so much
into, was failing. and I felt all of the struggles of this area and just my
situation and personal trials, added onto this all, I just felt numb. I felt like all of my
motivation and drive just left me and I couldn't grasp onto my purpose anymore. It was a scary week. I was seriously just numb and on autopilot
and the work wasn't doing anything for me anymore. But basically, not to be all down and
gloomy, the cool part of the story followed!!!
[Note: Scott Bybee was a former investigator who
took his own life.]
Earlier in the week and then on
Friday afternoon, we were talking to Zane about my family reunion and he
was like yeah! ask President! He will
totallly let you go! And I was like haha
that'd be cool. but I was pretty much 100% not going to call him or ask or
anything. I thought it'd be not allowed
and just not something he should have to worry about. But Friday night, the night before anyone
ever finds out about transfers, President calls and just tells us we're staying
in the same area … same companionship. Kind
of a random, almost unnecessary call, and he asked is there anything else you
might need? Sis Nilson and I looked at
each other and so we just asked if we could have you come meet our investigator
at the fireside. He said Of
course! And have them take you out to
lunch or dinner! :) WHAT!!! It was
awesome!!!
And basically, this whole visit.
WOW! The handbook says not to because it gets people trunky and homesick and
everything, but to be completely honest, it had the very opposite effect on me.
It was seriously, exactly what I
needed. It was like I had my fire relit
and the drive and motivation and everything just came flooding back! I remembered my purpose! I got
to remember really what I'm doing here. Who I'm here for. Why I'm here! To help others have the amazing family (or
close) that i have! :) When we were able to teach the Plan of
Salvation to Aunty Megumi and Uncle Chucky, It was the most amazing moment of my mission,
even though it wasn't the best I've ever done as a teacher. I was nervous and kind of off my game still --
but it just all hit me. I want them to
have each other forever. They deserve the happiness this gospel has to offer
-- the peace, the joy -- and so does everyone in this area; everyone out here. I remembered exactly why I'm out here. Even though those investigators didn't get to
accept the gospel in this life, the opportunity to do so is still there in the
Spriit world. In that moment, I KNEW
that the Plan of Salvation is real. That
I AM doing what I'm supposed to be doing out here, no matter what the outcome, I've done my part and the Savior knows their
situations and what they knew, wanted, and loved. They are taken care of and I can still help
others out here inspite of this and because of this experience. Wow! My testimony of God's love and awareness
of ME has shot up. I know that even when
I was so numb and empty, He knew me and was right there. He understood what I was going through and DID
hear my prayers. He KNEW what I needed
and what needed to happen to make it happen. The timing, the phone call from President,
everything. It all fell into place and
I can never deny the miracle of this week. I KNOW this gospel is true. I know
more than anything that God loves me and everyone I meet, that He is so
incredibly aware of every little thing that happens to me. Whether I stub my toe, or I lose a loved one,
He is there holding me up, whether I realize it or not.
On top of all of that. it was SO
amazing to see you all and to spend time with you all! I love you all sooo much!!! YOU are all so much my motivation to be out
here. I love you all and you are ALL in
my prayers by name every night. I love
you sooo much!! I know you are doing so much good at home and where you
all are. It's the best motivation in
the world!!!!
COM MUITO AMORRRRRR!!!<3333
-Sister Yoshimoto
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