Week 6 is Tokyo

 Okinomiyaki ingredients (pancake thing they make)

Sister Hubbard and Sister Trent

This is a banana soup, with pineapple and sweet potato! Haha it was
good. The thing on the side is some sort of something yummy... It has
Veggies inside, and it was good! :)

 View out our window in the apartment. Lots of rooftops! Sister Trent

and I always talk about how fun it would be to jump from roof to roof.

We never will though. :)

This outfit is a normal thing in Tokyo haha :)

Dearest family! 

First of all, I would like to announce that I am no longer a 1st transfer missionary! Today is the first day of my second transfer. Today was also transfer calls... My companion and I had been stressing about them all week, but we are happy to say that we are going to be together for another transfer! We love Kiowa. It is an amazing place. I'm so grateful to be here, For our investigators, and for not being transferred, haha. Sister Trent is the greatest! I love her so much. I learn so much from her everyday. This weekend was a little bit stressful for me, but everything turned out to be amazing! Our ward had a music night and sister Trent and I and the elders were asked to perform in it. Sister Trent had an idea to put 3 hymns together about the Savior together to testify of his birth, death, and resurrection. Often, on p-days, we come to the church and play the piano and sing together. Sister Trent has a beautiful voice. Anyway, I ended up playing the piano and she and the elders sang. We mixed, silent night, behold the great redeemer die, and he is risen, together. It was beautiful! I've picked up a new talent. I can mix hymns together in medleys really well. I didn't know I could do that, but I tried and did it! Gods helping me to develop my musical talents here. The ward loved it! Also, we sang in church a few weeks ago.

On Friday night, a member of our ward called us and asked me to speak in sacrament meeting on Sunday. I froze, when sister Trent told me what I had agreed to do! (I couldn't understand the whole phone conversation) I only had a couple hours to prepare and I was assigned to speak for ten minutes! At the time, I was so overwhelmed. My Japanese is coming, but I can honestly say that speaking for 10 minutes in Japanese sounded a little bit scary. After lots of prayer, and practice, I felt a lot better though. On Sunday, I was the first speaker. They called my name, and instantly, every single worry I had left me. I walked up to the pulpit and spoke for 5 minutes. I shared 2 scriptures, reading from the Japanese scriptures, and talked about elder Eyring's prophecy. After this, I bore a testimony for the last 5 minutes. I remember looking directly at the whole congregation and being perfectly confident. It was an amazing blessing. I felt the Lords strength so much, and he filled my mouth with the Japanese words I needed to bare my witness of Jesus Christ. I can't believe it all, but I spoke without notes for those last 5 minutes. God truly helped me, because there is no way I could be that calm and speak for that long. Our investigators were there, and it was such a great experience for me. I'm really grateful for it. :) 

Lots of questions this week! :) Here you all go! 

What is your favourite part of your everyday routine? 

Everyday, my companion Sister Trent and I study for 4 hours, personal study, companion study, language study, and then we do my 12 week new missionary training program. As much as I love studying, My favorite part of the day is when I leave the apartment and go dendo! :) (missionary work)
Do you get nervous when tracking? 

I actually love tracking. I've always loved tracking! It's really neat to talk to people on the street and to 'ping pong' people's doorbells. Even when we are rejected, I think it's a lot of fun. It's neat to meet different kinds of people and to feel the spirit prompt you to say different things when they open the door or walk down the street. Sometimes I am prompted to bring up eternal families right away. Sometimes I begin with life after death, or even just how to be happy in general. It's really fun to watch people's eyes and see them wonder and connect. It doesn't always happen, but when it does, it is worth every rejection. :)
What scripture has helped you the most? 

Mmmmm... This is a tough one, probably this one. 

50 And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done.

51 And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I should [learn Japanese]...?

(1 Nephi 17: 50-51) 

I love it! I found it my first day here, and it has inspired me ever since. Definitely a tender mercy for me. 

What do you do on P-days?

Well, last week I went to sky tree! That was great! Once every transfer I get to go to the temple in Hiroo, which is awesome! It's beautiful. Other than fun things like that, I do laundry...beat my futon, haha... And just other things like cleaning and writing my family and friends. 

What has been the most meaningful thing yet on your mission?

Everything is so full of meaning and purpose. This is a hard one. I love teaching people, as I said before, I love seeing people when they feel gods love for the first time, or feel the spirit. I love seeing the light that enters them, and the hope it gives them. This has been probably the most meaningful thing- connecting people to Heavenly Father and having them realize he is actually there. 

What has been the hardest thing so far on you mission? 

This one is easy! Japanese! Haha. I'm learning really fast though, according to sister Trent and the other missionaries in our zone. I've been really blessed. :) 

What do you usually eat? 

My companion and I love okinomiyaki! It's like a big pancake thing with cabbage, shrimp, fish, egg, and a few other things. It also comes in little balls called, tako yaki, and sometimes we buy it if we are out and are feeling like it. Tako yaki kind usually has octopus inside of it, and we eat it with fish flakes, kyupi, and bulldog sauce! Hontoni oishii!! We make the pancake kind and eat it atleast 3 times a week, haha. I've sent pictures before, but maybe I'll send them again. :) 

Our mission President, President Budge, has a really big testimony of exact obedience. He always encourages us to try and be better in this area. Our mission has a really great culture as far as this goes. Everything else is wonderful too. :) Our mission focus right now is member present lessons (elder Eyring's prophecy). Sister Trent and I have been trying really hard to take members with us when teaching. Also, we are trying many different things to help the members have more 'dendo Fire.' They are already wonderful. :) I can see Elder Eyring's prophecy coming true. We always encourage the members to talk to their friends about the gospel and as a result, we picked up two new investigators this week as referrals from the members. We were able to teach both of these people and they were amazing lessons! We taught one of the, about the Plan of Salvation and it was so powerful. The knowledge of life after death brought this lady to tears of gratitude and a string desire to pray. After praying, she said she knew everything we said was true. The member present, then asked sister Trent and I to sing. We did so, and we sang, "I know that my redeemer lives," in Japanese. This investigator was so touched, and our member was crying also. It was such a powerful lesson. Our other lesson was similar. :) 

We met some really amazing people this week! Sister Trent and I are trying a new style of dendo lately. While, housing we ask people if we can sing for them! It's been great so far. We figure we should use our talents together more. Right now, we are writing songs together about the savior, his love, and our investigators. Sister Trent has a lot of musical talent. 

If anything this week, I've learned so much to rely on the Lord. Both when times are hard and when they are good, we should always look to God for his help and show gratitude for what He has done. I love being a missionary so much. My first transfer went so fast, and I hope my mission doesn't keep getting faster. I love each day so much. Even when it is hard, I love being here. Japan is the most beautiful place I've ever seen. The people here are amazing! I love them so much.  

I wish I could say more, but I'm running out of time. Thank you so much for all of your letters! :) I love you all so much. It's good to hear that you are doing well. This week, I encourage you all to pray for an opportunity to share the gospel with others. I promise, as you do so, that you will have an opportunity to share the gospel with others. "The lord sends prepared people to his prepared servants."- Elder Eyring.

This church is true. I feel Gods love everyday, and I know he loves and cares about you all so much. Thank you for everything! 

Love always, 

-Sister Hubbard xoxo 

Week 5 in Tokyo

 Octopus! Oishii! :)

 This is Chana and Ken kun! (Chana is the one who makes curry) today

was Chana's birthday and we took her to sky tree with us! So fun! We

love them!!

This weeks exchanges! This is sister Gongaware, and this is a member
in our ward who loves to feed the missionaries. :)

 Remember that movie we watched ages ago? To toro? Haha I found a store

full of stuff from that movie!

Sister Evanson, sister Trent, and sister Jones! We had a sisters p-day
today, and we went to sky tree! It was too dangerous to go up into the
tower, but we had fun all the same!

 Where's Sister Hubbard!!!haha

 Sister Hubbard has always loved these dolls as I have several from when Daryn served in Japan :)

Janae's companion

This is the Sky Tree in Tokyo. It is the tallest free standing building in the world!

SELFIE!

Dear Family,

Today my companion and I are going to Skytree! (I will send you a picture of the big building) we don't have time to email you later tonight, so I am emailing this morning. :) I haven't read any of your emails yet, but I can read them later. It's okay. I hope you are all doing well, and that you are having a wonderful Sunday! It's Monday here, and according to my time clock, you are 15 hours behind me, haha. I hope church was good. :) 

So many exciting things have happened this week! I hope I have enough time to tell you about all of them! 

Last Tuesday, as I mentioned in my email last week, I went to the Tokyo Temple for the first time! It was an amazing experience. The Tokyo Temple is beautiful. Everything in Tokyo is beautiful, but the temple was amazing. I felt so much peace inside. The temple is such a blessing. I love the strength I am able to receive when I am inside. Covenants are so powerful and I'm grateful for them. At the temple I was able to see my MTC district! It was really great to see sister Chapman, sister Lacey, and sister Coughenour! 

It was really awesome! :) After the temple, we finished our new missionary training. It was really great! Today we have less time to email because we are going to sky tree! 

This week, sister Trent and I were able to see some wonderful miracles! I don't have much time, so I'll send you my weekly letter to president budge. 

"Dear President Budge, 

This week has been amazing! I had a wonderful experience in the Tokyo temple and the new missionary training was really great too! I received a lot of answers and impressions both for our investigators and for myself. Thank you for your training! Thank Sister Budge for me too. I loved her training about music at Zone conference. I really enjoyed all of the trainings this week. 

Sister Trent and I have some exciting news!! 

We were able to talk to a few of our investigators this week about baptism. We have set a date with our investigator, K. San, and we talked to M. about baptism! M. expressed great desires for her children to be baptized and said that she wants them to all serve missions! She wants to be baptized too, but right now it seems like an impossible thing in her mind. As sister Trent and I listened, we felt impressed to tell her about some of the feelings we had had during weekly planning. We told her that we had thought and prayed about the possibility of May 31st as a baptism date. We told her how we felt very strongly about this date, and promised her that she could be baptized with her kids on this date. She was in tears as she listened. We talked about some of the prophets in the scriptures who were asked to do hard things-things that seemed to be impossible, but through God's power they were able to do them. We again bore our testimonies and shared personal experiences relating to the impossible becoming possible with God. We decided, together, that we would pray and fast for this miracle. We love her family so much! We are so excited for them. The love we feel in their home is incredible. They are all so prepared! :) I've learned so much from them. We are praying that she will be able to get work off on Sunday's so that she can come to church every week. Right now, she can only come every other week. 

She is going to try and have her kids go every week though. 

This week, Sister Trent and I went on exchanges with the Urayasu Sisters. Sister Gongaware and I had a lot of appointments here in Koiwa. I was a little bit nervous about getting everywhere, traveling by train, and remembering where everything was, but it all worked out really well. :) Between the two of us, we were able to get everywhere we needed to go and to say everything that we needed to say. We were definitely blessed! (Side note to family-- sister Gongaware is only in her 3rd transfer, and I Had to lead out in our area for exchanges. I was definitely blessed! So how we were able to everything.) 

Sister Trent and I also picked up another couple investigators this week, so we will see what happens with them! :) 

I'm still learning lots and I'm so grateful sister Trent has another transfer before she goes home! I think we have a lot of wonderful things that will happen in Koiwa next transfer." 

It has been a good week! :) I'm sorry this email is kind of scatter brained. Thank you Josh for your email! I loved hear from you so much. Thank you Jarom and Jameson! I love you two so much! 

Thank you mom and dad and Jianna! Say hello to Jared for me. I sure love all of you. One last quick thought-I read these quotes this week by president Benson and I wanted to share them...

"Often we spend great effort in trying to increase the activity levels in our stakes. We work diligently to raise the percentages of those attending sacrament meetings. We labor to get a higher percentage of our young men on missions. We strive to improve the numbers of those marrying in the temple. All of these are commendable efforts and important to the growth of the kingdom. But when individual members and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly and consistently, these other areas of activity will automatically come. Testimonies will increase. Commitment will be strengthened. Families will be fortified. Personal revelation will flow."

"Oh, my brethren, let us not treat lightly the great things we have received from the hand of the Lord! His word is one of the most valuable gifts He has given us. I urge you to recommit yourselves to a study of the scriptures. Immerse yourselves in them daily so you will have the power of the Spirit to attend you in your callings. Read them in your families and teach your children to love and treasure them. Then prayerfully and in counsel with others, seek every way possible to encourage the members of the Church to follow your example. If you do so, you will find, as Alma did, that “the word [has] a great tendency to lead people to do that which [is] just--yea, it [has] more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which [has] happened unto them.” (Alma 31:5.) 

-President Benson

I know this is true. Diligent study of the Scriptures, or God's word, is one of the most powerful resources for protection in this world. I encourage you to look to some of the past experiences you have had while reading the scriptures, and then to compare these times to your scripture study now. When was the last time you had a meaningful experience in the scriptures? When was the last time you felt God speaking to you directly through them? 

I promise that as you read the scriptures, that you will have the strength you need to be strong in today's world. Keep reading your scriptures :) Remember to ask questions, because questions invite revelation. 

Next week I will try and explain things more. I am doing really well though. :) 

I love you all so much. Thank you for your prayers and for you faith. 

Love always,

Sister Hubbard 

xoxo 

Week 4 in Japan

 Yummy food...curries of sorts

 Apartment view at night

Looks like she found some chocolate she likes:)

Dearest Family, 

So many wonderful things have happened this week! Sister Trent and I have seen some more great miracles! I'm excited to tell you about them. :) 

Last week I mentioned that we had come in contact with a family who once upon a time had baptismal dates, but all of a sudden stopped meeting with the missionaries and hadn't been heard from despite countless efforts to find them. President Budge has been encouraging us to continue searching for them, so many missionaries in my area for many months have been trying to find them. Well, as I mentioned last week, this family found us! We were able to meet with them this week and have dinner with them. Sister Trent and I felt very strongly that it would be good to share a message about the Savior and his love for us. This family is Filipino! The mother of the family is Single and she has three kids. The three speak 3 languages, Filipino, Japanese, and (gratefully) English! Anyway, our lesson with them was very powerful. We had the children read from the account of Christ's appearance to the Nephites. After we helped them understand a little bit, we watched the Easter videos I was also telling you about last week. As we watched and read together, the spirit was so strong. This single mother had tears in her eyes, and both sister Trent and I were able to bare powerful testimonies about our own experiences with Christ's love. I'm so grateful for this family! They are so wonderful. I love them so much. We will see what happens with them in the next couple weeks! President Budge is really happy that we've found them again. :) 

As a mission, we have some really great goals to accomplish before President Budge is released as mission president. Sister Trent and I have been working really hard to try and meet the expectations he has given us. We know God will allow us to see miracles if we exercise our faith and follow the spirit. 

I had a really funny experience yesterday, haha. We were invited over to a recent converts house for dinner. Her name is C, and we love her to death! She is Cambodian, and she loves to feed the missionaries. She doesn't speak very good Nehongo, but I feel like I understand her lots better than most people because she is very expressive and pantomime when she speaks. 

Anyway, before knocking on her door for the apartment, sister Trent was telling me about how C likes to make curry. She said it would probably be a good idea for me to just try a little bit first because she makes it incredibly spicy! C answered the door, and welcomed us inside. As soon as we walked into the dining room, sister Trent and I saw 2 big bowls of curry that had already been dished up, haha. It smelt really good, and looked super good to me! Haha. Sister Trent gave me a look of, "oh no" as we sat down to eat. C, after we prayed, starred at us as we lifted our spoons to eat. C was looking at me in particular (probably because she thought I had never eaten this kind of food before). Anyway, my companion sister Trent took the first bite. It was so spicy that she started coughing like she had choked on something. She grabbed her water and started eating the plain rice beside her, haha! After seeing this, I was a little bit concerned about what my experience would be. C just laughed at her, and then turned to me. I took a bite, and it was so good!! It was a little spicy, but nothing as spicy as I had had before. The flavor was so good! C looked at me mysteriously. I continued eating. I hadn't even noticed the fact that I hadn't touched my water until half way through the meal when C said, "wow! You like Spicy! I am Happy! You no drink water! Haha, she is so cute. I think, she really liked me, because she went and got me another huge bowl of spicy curry. After that, C and I just laughed at my companion Sister Trent because she was having a hard time with how spicy the curry was, but she also wanted to be polite. She ended up finishing it, (I helped her by taking big bites of her food as C left the room to get her MANY glasses of water) haha. It was so fun. 

Tomorrow is an exciting day for me! I get to go to the temple with all of the sister in our mission! I will get to see my friends from the MTC, and go to the temple! Also, I will be visiting the mission home to finish my new missionary training with President and Sister Budge. I'm really excited!! :) 

Sister Trent is excited too. I'm not sure how much I have told you about Sister Trent, but she is so amazing! I'm really grateful for her. She is a really good missionary and everyone I meet tells me I am lucky to have her! ...I don't think luck had anything to do with it, but they have it about right otherwise. ;) I am so blessed. I feel that so much everyday I am here. 

Our investigator K San is doing really great too! We are planning to ask her to be baptized in the next week here, according to the spirit. We are excited about her. S San is also making great progress. We may have to extend her baptism date, but she still has the desire and is working hard to overcome her struggles. (She is the one I had the dream about) I went to her house for the first time last night, and the inside of her house was a perfect likeness to my dream. As I walked in and saw the table, I had tears in my eyes, because I felt the spirit confirming the truth of my dream. Although our lesson with her was not the one we taught in the dream, I felt at great peace being there with her. She is very special to sister Trent and I. All of our investigators are. :) 

I did have the opportunity to watch conference this week! It was amazing! Wow. I feel like the conference talks of the past have never been so direct and consistently themed. Almost every single talk referenced the important of families and the great duty have to protect them as the basic unit of society. I feel very strongly that the apostles warnings of the disintegration of the family, and the patterns foretold in the scriptures of Christ's second coming, will prove to continue to show the calamities foretold by prophets. We are already beginning to see these calamities. As elder Anderson said: 

"We live, brothers and sisters, in the days preceding the Lord’s Second Coming, a time long anticipated by believers through the ages. We live in days of wars and rumors of wars, days of natural disasters, days when the world is pulled by confusion and commotion. But we also live in the glorious time of the Restoration, when the gospel is being taken to all the world--a time when the Lord has promised that He “will raise up … a pure people” and arm them “with righteousness and with the power of God." 

I love what he said! We are the people who God will raise up to be strong in the power of our God in this world

Along with this, there were a lot of talks which focused on protecting our testimonies and hearts against the evil in this world. Many talks focused on our relationships with God and how to strengthen them. They focused on the things we need to be doing everyday to protect ourselves from the evil around us. With all the things happening in the world, and the great amount of wickedness, President Monson asks us to go to the temple. I'm grateful for the temple. :) It is an amazing safeguard for us. I know that we will be safe from everything in the world as we go to the temple. I get to go tomorrow to the Tokyo temple, and I'm really excited. :) 

I also thought it was very interesting that Elder Hales shared Official declarations stating the rights to religious freedom, emphasizing the need to protect it. For me, these sayings echoed every single other talk given. This being, our cause for religious freedom, and how these freedoms are slowly degrading in our world. Elder Eyring spoke at a world gathering of religious leaders to discuss the family. In this meeting, world religious leaders made a stand to protect the family as defined by God. It made me think...As a result of the things happening, What is our world turning to? What are we turning to? 

While the world is moving faster and faster down hill, the members of the church work hard to help hasten the work of the Lord in preparation for his coming. We are so lucky to be apart of this wonderful work! 

Many apostles also stated the great need to follow the commandments with our whole hearts. Almost every talk directly invited us to prepare our hearts and minds, reverting them to the 2nd coming of the Lord. The Prophecies revealed concerning the last days, and the saints of the church have been revealed and will continue to be revealed. Incredible! Many apostles also reminded us of the signs and wonders around us and related them to the signs before Christ came to earth. Christ is coming again. Now, more than ever before, I feel a great urgency to evaluate my own level of conversion. My mind is turned to the temple, to family history work, to my friends and family, and to my brothers and sisters her in Japan. 

It is so important that we are prepared for the times ahead of us. 

To my family and loved ones: 

Do everything you can to be valiant servants of the Lord. Follow the spirit everyday and you will be ready for whatever comes your way. Continue to fast and pray. Evaluate your own level of conversion. Be excited about the gospel! Do whatever you need to do to come closer to Christ. Remember the covenants you have made, and do all you can every day to live them valiantly. Make time every week to go to the temple. Seek revelation for yourself and for God's will concerning you in His work of Salvation. As you do these things, I know that you will be protected and that your conversion will be strong enough to withstand every adversary that comes against you. 

I echo the invitation of Elder Nelson concluding the General Conference: 

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

(Moroni 10:32-33)

I love you all so much. Thank you for your prayers in my behalf. I feel the Lord's strength as I serve each day. I know it is because of our prayers that I am able to be strengthened. 

Love always, 

Sister Hubbard 

Week three in Japan

We love seeing Sister Hubbard looking so happy and well!

 Some sort of festival

 Flowers and trees are blossoming everywhere. It is so pretty.

Daryn said these are like pancakes cooked on muffin type grills. They taste yummy.

 Traditionally dressed Japanese women

Dearest family! 

I hope you all enjoyed conference and that you had a fun Easter. It sounds like there are many exciting things happening back home right now! Thanks for telling me all about it. :) You are all so amazing and I love you so much! Its great to hear that Josh and Jianna have a suteki new car to drive places! (You lucky ducks.. Haha) 

First of all, Happy birthday Daddy!!!! :D I hope you have a very special day. :) 

I haven't seen conference yet, but we will be watching it next Sunday hopefully. We will be able to watch it in English, so I am really excited to listen to all of the talks. I'm sure they were amazing. :) 

This week has been really good! Sister Trent and I were able to meet some really cool people as we dendo'ed this week. When we ride the trains, we always try to talk to as many people as we can, as it it easier to stop people when you aren't on a bike, haha. (We do stop people while riding our bikes though) Yesterday, after church, we went to go visit a less active sister and we had to ride the train. On the train, we met two really neat people who are now potential investigators. I will tell you about the first person. This woman was probably in her 20s and she was from Napal. She could speak English, which was so great! Haha. Anyway, we were talking to her casually, and eventually we were able to ask her if she believed in God? She said she didn't and gave us a long explanation of why she didn't. After she finished, I looked at sister Trent really quick to see if she was going to say anything. She didn't look like she had anything ready to say. I felt impressed to ask this woman a question. I asked, "So, if God doesn't exist, what do you think happens after to life when we die?" .. I had barely finished the question when she clasped her head and started to shake it slowly. She said, "no no, I don't want to think about it!" -I could tell she had thought about my question before. From here, we were able to share about the Plan of Salvation and how after to life we can be with our families forever. She was so touched. I watched her eyes as we talked to her... They slowly turned from a worried state, into eyes full of hope and intensive listening. I bore my testimony of God and how he answers prayers. I promised her that if she prayed about the things we had taught her, that God would let her know if they were true or not. We then invited her to church. We will see what happens next week! :) 

I could share probably 50 of these experience per week if I had the time to share them... The work of salvation is so amazing! Sister Trent and I don't always get a return appointment, or ever see the people we meet again, but when we are able share principle with someone through the spirit, it is amazing! God knows how to exalt his children, and I think that the simple things we teach to people on the street are part of to process. We plant the seeds and God is able to continue to prepare people's hearts as we follow the spirit. It's been the coolest thing ever to see people's eyes light up and suddenly be full of joy or hope. That is really what to gospel does for us. I'm so grateful for it. 

Sister Trent is one of the Sister training leaders in our zone, so I have the opportunity to go on exchanges every two weeks or so. Last week, (I didn't mention it very much) I went to Adachi and got to spend the day and night with Sister Jones (the other sister training leader). Then, this week, sister Jones and my companion had a meeting with the mission leadership at the mission home, so Sister Evanson and I were together for most of the day! It was really fun!  (Sister Evanson is actually from Lethbridge and I've met her family before. I think her dad is stake president or something) I love my companion, but it was really neat to see how other sister approach people and begin to teach. There is really no wrong way to do it! :) I had a lot of fun. 

Our investigators are doing pretty good right now. We have hit a few curves in the road along the way, but we are hoping to be able to extend some baptismal invitations this week. Keep your fingers crossed! Konno, (the lady who came to church for the Nelson conference) is doing really well! We haven't asked her to baptized yet, but we think she wants to be!  One of our recent converts in the ward, Chana (small, really funny Cambodian lady) started telling her about great her baptism was and then she asked Konno if she wanted to be baptized! It was crazy! Sister Trent and I didn't really know what to do! Haha. Konno is really shy by nature, but said she thought it would be a good idea to be baptized. So wonderful! We are sure it will happen soon. :) 

it's been really neat to teach her. 2 nights ago, we taught her about the plan of salvation. When we started talking about Celestial Kingdom, she was really excited! She told us that she had a dream about a place like the Celestial Kingdom and how she thought she saw Moses or someone there teaching her about it. -That was super neat to hear! God really is preparing people for us everyday. :) so cool. While we sleep at night, God works with our investigators hearts, and then in the morning we try again to plant the gospel into their hearts. We are really excited about Konno. :) (she is Nehongene by the way) 

My Japanese is coming along. Slowly, but surely, haha. I have little miracles here and there and I know I just have to keep trusting in the promises the lord has given me. I am understanding lots more than I have previously though! :)

This week while housing, Sister Trent and I 'accidentally' you ran into a persons house who was a referral some time ago. This lady had been moved to the 'not interested' place in our contacts, but we had no idea at the time. We rang her door bell and she began telling us that she had already found Jesus and that she accepted him as her savior. As she was about to go away, (we never saw her face, this was all done on the voice exchange doorbell outside of her house) we began teaching her the restoration and about the Book of Mormon. This lady also spoke English! 

Sister Trent bore a powerful testimony of how our message has helped her and her family, and then I felt impressed to tell her about the 1st vision and how we know God speaks to his children. We both testified of gods love for her and her family and then we asked her if we could come back and teach her family. She was silent as we waited outside the door (I was worried she had hung up on us) but surely enough, she came through. She was very emotional and we could tell she was deeply touched by our message. Although she still said she wasn't interested, the spirit was strong and we are going to visit her again sometime soon to see how she is doing. Maybe we will teach her family soon. 

We also saw some miracles with some former investigators! One mother contacted us at eikaiwa (English class) and said that she wanted to start meeting with us again. This lady and her 3 children once upon a time had baptismal dates set, but they decided last minute to not be baptized. We are excited to see what will happen with her. :) 

Oh! And I should probably mention that I have been in over 100 tiny earthquakes by now, haha. Some are bigger than others, but they usually are just little rumbles. It's been a neat experience for sure! Haha. 

If you haven't watched the new Easter video yet, "because he lives," you should definitely watch it. :) It is really great. There is another great video that we have been sharing with people this week called, "because of him," (another Easter video). They are both amazing, and they have helped me realize how truly grateful I am to say that I have a Savior. It is only through him that I am able to be here in Japan. It is only through him and his goodness that I can be happy every single day here, and every single day of my life. Because he lives, everyone can feel the peace, love and immeasurable joy that comes from feeling his love. There have been so many times in my life when I have felt his arms around me. Sometimes it is difficult to see or feel Christ's strength in our lives, but as I look back on my life and everything I have ever struggled with, I can see how he helped me every step of the way. I truly believe that most times, when we are really struggling, he stand with us, holding his arms open, reaching for us, begging us to grab him. Because of the gift of agency which God gave us, I imagine him standing close by, hoping that we will ask him for help. He will not violate our agency to choose, and this is why we must ask him for help. As soon as we ask him for help, he will reach out and save us. I 

Know this is true. This week, while studying, I found some scriptures that I really enjoyed reading. Since it is Easter, I would like to share them with everyone. 

(John 18:37)

37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

(1 Nephi 19: 9)

9 And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it, and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long suffering towards the children of men.

(Alma 7:11-12)

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

(Isaiah 53:5-6)

 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

(D&C 18:11-12)

11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.

12 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance.

These are powerful scriptures that testify of Jesus Christ. I love them so much, and I know they are true. Christ remembers each of us. He has been through each one of our lives individually. He knows what we struggle with and he knows how to make us happy. :) he knows everything. I testify of his redeeming power to save. It doesn't matter what we have done, he will and can forgive us. It is through him that we are able to return to our Heavenly Fathers presence. As a representative of Jesus Christ, I testify of the reality of these things. His love is never ending and we can feel peace as we rely on him. I love my savior Jesus Christ and I am so grateful for him.

"Savior, redeemer of my soul...

Whose mighty hand hath made me whole...Whose wondrous power hath raised me up... And filled with sweet my bitter cup! What tongue my gratitude can tell, o gracious God of Israel. 

Never can I repay, thee lord, but I can love thee. Thy pure word, hath it not been my one delight, my joy by day, my dream by night? Then let my lips proclaim it still, and all my life reflect thy will. 

Over rule mine acts to serve thine ends. Change frowning foes to smiling friends. Chasten my soul till I shall be in perfect harmony with thee. Make me more worthy of thy love, and fit me for the life above." 

I love this song so much! I know this Gospel is true. God does answer our prayers and he smiles upon us as we strive to become like him. 

I love you all and pray for you. :) Never forget the love the Lord has for you. If you haven't felt it, pray to feel it and it will be there. 

I've had a good week! I pray for all of you. I'm so grateful to be a missionary. 

Love always, 

-Sister Hubbard 

Week 2 in Japan

 My companion and I 

 A type of yummy chocolate

 Baseball field. Baseball is very popular here and there are diamonds everywhere.

 Sushi :)

 Type of curry with Tofu

 A neat house

Sister Hubbard's English Class teaching group of missionaries

Dear family, 

So many wonderful things have happened this week, I'm not sure where to begin! 

First things first, allow me to say that I am so excited for Jared and Lys!!!!! I was so full of emotion when I found out. I'm so happy for both of them! I'm so so happy, and I'm not even sad about missing their wedding! Knowing they will be together forever is enough for me.

To answer a few questions...I'm living in Edogawa! That is so neat dad! We actually know where that school is and we live abut 10 minutes from the Eki. We live pretty close to a huge tall building called "sky tree." We wake up every morning and see it out our window in the distance. It is really really pretty at night to see. We mostly bike everywhere here in Koiwa, but we sometimes walk or take a train somewhere. The trains are really crowded, but it is really neat to talk with people all the time. I did get my suitcase after making a few phone calls, haha. That was a blessing. I'm glad I put clothes and essentials in both of my suitcases. My mission president has until June, and so does my trainer! I will probably be her last companion. She is not excited to be going home soon. Right now she is trying to figure out school, and she is not excited about it, haha. Poor thing. There are tons of cherry blossoms everywhere! I've been wanting to get some good pictures, but I haven't had very much time. I'll try and send a few. 

Okay, my week! It's been really great. We have definitely seen miracles every day. The small things that happen to us are really a testimony of God's constant care and love I know he is guiding me and my companion. :) there are so many people we meet on the street and when we knock on doors who are so special! We don't always know what to say (mostly me) but God helps us know what the persons needs are. It's such a neat thing to be led here and there according to the spirit. I love being a missionary. 

Last week, as I mentioned before, we had many investigators come to church to see Elder Nelson speak. There was one lady, Konno San, who the members found around the church, and no one knew who she was or how she got there. Someone told her to come to the church and it wasn't the missionaries. She said it was someone who she briefly met. Anyway, she is now one of our progressing investigators. We taught her the restoration this week, and taught her how to pray. She is really good with keeping commitments. She had a lot of questions about Elder Nelsons apostolic blessing which he left over us before leaving. It was powerful. He mentioned something about those who were sick and afflicted to be healed according to the will of God. It really touched her heart and she asked us if people are healed by gong to church? We were able to teach her about the priesthood and power of God. We are really excited to teach her about Jesus Christ and his many miracles. Her father, who she lives with, is really sick I think. We are excited to continue to teach her. She is just one of the people who has been prepared for us. Shimogi San is another older lady who is investigating the church. She has a baptismal date for April 26, so we will see what happens. :) We love our investigators so much. We met a few others last week while contacting, so we are excited to teach them this week too! 

In Tokyo, we talk to so many people because there are people everywhere! Not everyone listens, but every person we talk to will someday know how wonderful and important our message is. After this life, I would like to know that I did all I could to share the gospel with people. I don't think there would be anything more heartbreaking than to know that I could have helped someone and then didn't talk to them about the gospel. So, even when people turn us down, I like to think that we tried our best and that someday they might accept our message. We plant so many seeds as missionaries, but we never know what one Book of Mormon, or one testimony might do. God is the one who prepares the hearts of people, and all we need to do is follow the spirit everyday. :) 

One more amazing experience I would like to share with you. I wrote to letter to President Budge this week. ( we write him every week) I also went on exchanges this week and it was great! 

Dear President Budge, 

This week, I feel like Sister Trent and I have seen some wonderful miracles. My first week here, we set very specific goals for our investigators to be baptized, and as we have tried to work really hard, the Lord has allowed us to witness great changes in people. A few nights ago, we were teaching the 2nd lesson to one of our investigators who lives with her father. As we were teaching her, her father kept interrupting us. Although I couldn't understand everything, I could tell he was contradicting the things we were trying to teach. Amidst all of the interrupting, both sister Trent and I worried about our investigator, and whether or not she would eventually side with her father and decide it to discontinue learning. However, when we asked her if she thought the Book of Mormon was true, she said she did. When we asked her about her prayers, she said she was praying every day. ( By nature, this investigator is really shy, but she was so bold when saying these things in front of her father) She is in her 30s, and she is so prepared. We have great hopes for her and are already beginning to see a great change in her. She is gradually becoming very happy. It's been neat to see. :) 

Sister Trent and I went on exchanges this week with the sisters in Adachi. I feel like I learned a lot from doing missionary work with another sister. It was a good experience. 

I feel so blessed to be in Koiwa. There are amazing people here. A lot of the time, I feel like I want to say more to the people who we encounter, but I just try my best to say what I can. I would like to share one last experience. Lately, ( this happened in the MTC too ) I have been dreaming of my family every night, but during exchanges, I didn't dream of home! Instead, I had an amazing dream about one of our investigators! I've never been to this investigators home, but after I told Trent Shimai about what I dreamed, she said that Shimogi san's house is very similar. In the dream, we were sitting across from our investigator in regular chairs ( not on the floor) at a table. In the dream, I was sharing a scripture with her. I held the Book of Mormon in my hands and pointed to a scripture and asked her to read it. After she had finished, I began trying to bear my testimony to her. In the dream I felt a great uneasiness about speaking Japanese. I was stumbling, but I continued to trust in the lord and speak. After I had finished, she took the Book of Mormon in her hands and gazed at the scripture. She was deeply touched by it. She put the Book of Mormon down and reached out to me and said, (she was speaking Japanese, but I heard English) "no matter what, please keep talking and trying to speak Japanese. I know what you have said is true, and I feel ready to be baptized." 

That is all I remember, but this dream was such a tender mercy for me. I know God, through this dream, was instructing me to keep talking and trusting in Him. He allowed me to see the blessings of opening my mouth and trying to speak. I'm so grateful for this experience. I know the lord is with me and that he will continue to help and bless me. 

This dream was something so small, but it is through the little things that God speaks to us. "By small things are great thing brought to pass. In many instances, they do confound the wise. "

I know this is true. My Japanese is coming along. I often get frustrated with myself, but I am always picked up by the spirit and through my prayers. I know God hears my prayers and when I pray to him, I know he is strengthening me. I love this gospel so much. 

I wish I could say more! 

I love you all so much. 

I continue to pray for you all! 

Love always, 

-Sister Hubbard