Week 24 Sado

 Sister Horito and Sister Hubbard

 Lots of sea food in Sado

 Sister Hubbard will be eating more traditional Japanese food in Sado...

 Cooking in their apartment...

 Janae said she found this in her apartment...Alberta Honey all the way to Japan!

 Sister Hubbard and Sister Horito

 The boat Sister Hubbard arrived on

 Sister Horito and Sister Hubbard

Cool bush they found

Dear Family,

Hello everyone! Thank you for the emails and love! 

For the past four days I have been in Niigata because we had all of these conferences that we had to go to. On Friday we had zone conference with president and sister Nagano. It was really great! They both gave amazing trainings an I really felt the spirit. I'll talk some more about it later in the email. On Saturday, we had a huge district conference with all of the branches in Niigata! I would compare it to stake conference, but because we only have "groups" and "branches" up here, we call it district meeting because there are no wards yet. Hopefully soon! :) we had a zone p-day today and it was really fun! I've met a lot of people who I have never met before in the mission because they have all been in Niigata for a little while. It's been really fun! Because it is really expensive to ride the Ferry, we just spent 4 days in Niigata so that we could be part of all of the activities happening in our zone. Right now I am on the Ferry writing to you all on my way back home. The boat we are riding on today is huge! It's a kind of crew ship and is pretty exciting! 

Sado is doing pretty good! As I mentioned earlier, we weren't able to be there for very long this week because of all of the meetings and such, but we saw some pretty cool miracles! On Sado, there is this Main Street where all the stores and things are. Sister Horito and I often bike/walk down it and talk to people. Most people seem to have little or no interest as we go finding, and so lately we have been thinking of some ways that might be more effective. I can't remember if I mentioned it or not last week, but Sister Horito's Dad suggested that we buy brooms and sweep in front of all of the shops on this main road. We tried it last week and saw a lot of success as we served the people by sweeping in front of their shops. We met an older lady named Nakagawa San and had a really good talk with her. Anyway, long story short, we visited her again this week and took her some apple cake that we made her. She was really happy to see us and she introduced us to her daughter named Rieko San. We think they have a lot of potential and are planning to eat dinner with them this next week sometime. Pretty exciting! 

We also spent quite a bit of time housing this past week in Sado. About half way through one afternoon, we were having no luck. We talked to so many people, but they all told us that they had no interest and that they didn't believe in God. I was feeling a little bit discouraged, but we decided to house down a few more streets. About half way down, we met this lately who listened to us for about 10 minutes. She was also a very strong Buddhist, but we were able to explain who God is and teach her about prayer. It was really neat! About half way through the conversation, she asked us how we knew God existed and we were able to bear our testimonies of prayer and of the Book of Mormon. The Spirit was really strong and we could tell that she really felt it, despite saying no to our message. 

I feel like dendou is a lot different in Sado than it was in Tokyo, but I feel like I am learning a lot as a result of it all. In Tokyo, Eikaiwa was a huge tool we used to find people and teach them. In Sado, Eikaiwa isn't a huge deal because most people who live here will never have to use English unless they move to the mainland. Even then, they don't see much of a point because everyone speaks Japanese. So, right now our attendance for Eikaiwa is very low. We are trying to build it right now. As a district, we went to some of the surrounding schools and offered to help the students learn English. Right now we are waiting for the Principals to call us back and let us know if it is a go or not. Hopefully we can see some miracles there! We are trying really hard to focus on the youth in Sado and get them to do fun activities with us so that someday they will have the opportunity to be taught by the missionaries. There is a fun place here in Sado where all of the school kids go after school to hang out on weekends. The place has a fun  Purikura booth (photo booth that prints out pictures and you can decorate them and collect them) and games and such. Anyway, we are planning to go there and become friends with all of the school students and hopefully interest them in our Eikaiwa. :) It should be fun! We are already friends with quite a few of the high school students here and it is always so fun to see them on the streets and say 'hello' as we ride our bikes by. They are all awesome! 

Well, I guess I should tell you a little bit about the 4 days I spent in Niigata this week. Our zone conference was amazing! President and Sister Nagano are so wonderful. They're trainings were so powerful. In zone meeting, we read in judges chapter 7 about the story of Gideon and the 300 soldiers who fought blowing trumpets and with the power of God against the Midianites, who's numbers were as the sands of the sea. Together, we read the story. 

16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.

17 And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.

18 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.

19 ¶So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.

20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.

21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.

22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholah, unto Tabbath.

President Nagano opened everything up for discussion and I feel like everyone learned a lot as we read and studied the scriptures together. It was really great, and I felt the spirit very strong as he compared us to the 300 warriors going to battle against the 41 million people in Tokyo- pretty amazing comparison if you really think about it. I really felt the power of the Spirit as we all discussed and read together. So powerful! Every time President and Sister Nagano speak to me personally, or to us as a zone or mission, I feel so strongly that they are called and inspired of God to do what they do. God really can work miracles though us, but it is our responsibility to be sanctified enough to receive those special blessings. We talked a lot about speaking and acting with spiritual power. We talked about how this spiritual power comes from being exactly obedient and turning our thoughts and hearts to God. After the meeting, our zone leaders encouraged us to join in a special 40 day fast with them. We all accepted and Covenanter with the Lord to fast from the things that keep us from focussing 100% on the work. We each wrote down what we would work on individually to become more sanctified. We then made goals and plans for each companionship to be able to see 2 baptisms in the next 4 months. It got us all really excited and committed to our 40 day fast that we had started. So powerful! :) 

The next day, president and Sister Nagano spoke in the stake conference meeting about member and missionary work and committed the whole congregation to find people for the missionaries to teach. As part of the commitment, they gave everyone a Book of Mormon stick in that answers a lot of questions Japanese people have about life. All the questions are answered though the Book of Mormon. Anyway, I wish I had time to tell you about his whole talk! Since I don't, I will just say that it was really neat to see all of these members accept the invitation and commit to sharing the gospel with their friends. The feeling in the room was so powerful as president Nagano promised blessings upon the members and missionaries in that meeting. I was so amazed! The Spirit is so powerful! 

All in all, it's been an amazing week! I feel like I'm almost in a whole different mission being way up here in Niigata, but it is an amazing area to be in. I feel the the members are beginning to be very excited about the work here and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to see prophecy be fulfilled through them. Their hearts are so strong. 

Well, that's all for this week! I love you all and am always praying for you. Stay strong and please share your testimonies with those around you! Share it by being you! People can really see the light that you have and there are prepared people everywhere!! ... Yes, even in little ol' Magrath ;) haha. I love you all! Thank you for your love and letters! 

Love always, 

-Sister Hubbard 

Week 23 First Transfer

 Saying goodbye to new friends and converts in Koiwa, Megumi and Minami Chan

 The adventure begins with a 5-6 hour bus ride...then a 2.5 hour boat ride to the Island of Sado.

 Houses in Sado

 Janae's new companion, Sister Horito

 forest's are very dense in Japan

 rice fields

Janae feeding birds on boat ride

Dear family, 

Thanks for the emails! I can't believe it is September already... So crazy! It blows my mind how fast time goes. 

Well, let me tell you about my two day trip to Sado! On Wednesday morning, I said goodbye to sister Ahn and traveled to the Honbu with Sister Crandall, my temporary traveling companion. Megumi and Minami Chan wanted to come and say goodbye to me at the Honbu, and so they travelled with us to Higashi Nagasaki. It was so sweet of them to come and say goodbye to me, and to travel so far to do it. I love them so much! Saying goodbye to everyone was really difficult in Koiwa as you could probably imagine, but my last day there, we saw so many miracles! It was amazing! I think I will always remember Koiwa as an area full of miracles. There are so many prepared people there, and I feel like I really saw God's hand in the work there everyday. From the Honbu, I said goodbye to Megumi and Minami Chan and pair up with sister Borchert who had been transferred to the Niigata area. We were companions for the rest of the day traveling. It was fun to visit with her! I feel like we are really similar. She was homeschooled for most of her life and has 6 siblings and is the second oldest, and oldest daughter! Maybe someday we will be companions. :) She's awesome. Anyway, the bus ride was a good 5-6 hours long and so we didn't arrive in Niigata until later that night. It was a good trip though! When we arrived in Niigata as a group of missionaries, and after eating dinner, we visited the Niigata missionaries Eikaiwa class and the people in the church. 

Sister Borchert and I then met our new companions at the church and we stayed the night in the Niigata Sisters apartment. My new companion is so awesome! I love her a lot. We have a lot of fun together and work really hard here in Sado. Anyway, back to my traveling story! The next morning, Sister Horito and I hopped on another bus to the boat dock where we would board the ferry for our little island of Sado! The boat ride was about 2 and a half hours long, but it was really fun! We met some neat people on the boat and were able to do some missionary work too, which was really fun on the boat! I will send you some pictures and a few videos I took. On the ferry, we had a lot of fun feeding the seagulls, haha. It was kinda scary at first, but super fun. As our journey continued, we slowly began to see the island in the distance and it made me really excited. 

Sado is so nature filled and beautiful! The only place I could begin to compare it to is Alaska and the beautiful nature we saw there on our hiking trip. So beautiful! The ocean in really close to our apartment- probably 5 minutes away- and we talk to people on the beach sometimes. I never thought I would be dendouing on a beach, that's for sure! Right now it's a little too cold for swimming, but there are a lot of fishermen and people on the beach. The waves are so beautiful, and I feel like I'm somewhere off the planet sometimes, haha. What's better than being on a beach with beautiful waves and Sister Horito? Well, let me tell you! Being a missionary doing missionary work, on a pretty beach, with Sister Horito, is a hundred times better! Haha. It's really exciting. Yesterday, there was a huge triathlon that happened here and there were so many people on the island to talk to! The triathlon started at 4 in the morning and finished close to 9pm at night. Pretty cool! Obviously, we didn't see a whole lot of it, but a lot of people thought that we were there for the triathlon because there are not a lot of foreigners on Sado. People are always so surprised when sister Horito and I tell them we live in Sado. Some people here have never seen a Caucasian before and its been fun to talk with people. Most people here are very Buddhist and have never heard of Jesus Christ or God before. The past week has been difficult to find people who are interested in our message. We've talked to a lot of people, but the church is still really new in this area and so not many people know what it even is. I am the 11th sister missionary to ever serve on this island, which is pretty neat. My last area was huge and we had 300ish members in the ward. Here, we have a small branch of 13 members. I love everyone so much though! They are wonderful. As a ward, we talked about how we can invite more people to church and share the gospel. Everyone is pretty 'dendou fired' so to speak, so I'm really grateful for that! We don't have very many investigators and so we have a lot of time for finding. It's okay though, because I love finding! Lately, as we have been knocking on people's doors- well, actually I shouldn't say that... Here in Sado, we open people's doors and yell, "gomen kudasai!" Haha. Anyway, as we have been finding, most people say that they are Buddhist and not interested. Other people say that they have no idea what we are taking about and that they don't understand what God or Jesus Christ is. Its been a pretty different experience for me. Missionaries have told me that this is a really hard area because everyone is so Buddhist and they're probably right, but if it's God's will, we can change that! As I've been thinking about the area and what needs to happen, I've felt rally strongly that family History is going to be a huge part of the changing process. This week in district meeting, we are going to talk about it all and put a game plan together. I'm excited for this area and I feel like I'm going to see a lot of miracles happen here. I'm really happy to be here serving here. 

Today, we went with the elders to an old folks home and sang Karaoke for them and played bowling with them. It was so fun! It reminded me a little bit of the diamond willow home back in little old Magrath that we always did activities at with the seniors. So fun! It was a great service experience. I've learned that everyone knows us as "the Christians with white helmets" around Sado. It makes me laugh so hard when people say they have seen us before around the island on our bikes and wearing our white helmets, haha. I'm starting to wonder if the helmets we have to wear while biking are more for identification purposes instead of for safety? Haha, I'm not sure anymore, but it's really funny. We will probably go back to do service again because they really enjoyed everything and asked us to come again. 

The weather here is a lot different than it was in Tokyo. It's been really windy and rainy lately, bu it's also been warm and sunny sometimes- kinda like southern Alberta, haha. The weather is always changing! It rained yesterday, and You know that smell that is so fresh and perfect when it rains? It smells so good here because of all the nature and the climate is very natural, Haha. 

So, I've learned some really cool things about this area in the last week! So, apparently there was a time in history when it was really dangerous for Christians in Japan. They would send all of the Christians who refused to deny Christ to Sado for execution. Crazy right?! I'm sure I will hear more about it all as I am here longer, but that really amazed me! I've hear all kinds of stories about people who were sent here and killed because of their Christian beliefs. Sometime for p-day, we are going to go and check out the ruins and the historical site where all of this happened. I'm really excited! I feel a strong inner connection to this area, and for some reason it is already so dear to my heart. The area is definitely different and missionary work is hard here, but I love it here so much. I'm excited for what is ahead of me. :) 

Well, I have so much more to say, but I'll have to leave it at that. I love you all so much and am so grateful for all of you. This church is true, and I'm so grateful to be a missionary. I know God lives and that He loves us. He loves us individually, and personally. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and for what He has done for me. This Gospel is so wonderful. 

Love always, 

Sister Hubbard 

Week 22 August 30, 2015

 going away transfer dinner...

 Sister trainer luncheon

 Surprize going away cake for sister Hubbard

 Going away party was at Red Lobsters

 Pday zone treat...pancakes, ice cream and nutella and chocolate and bananas

Pizza with octopus, shrimp and tuna. Pasta dish with fish and veggies

Dear Family, 

I hope you all had fun camping this week with the Lybbert's! I'm sure it was great fun! :) 

Thanks for the letters and for your love and prayers. 

So, today was transfer calls!! Transfer calls are always a little bit nerve racking for me and today was definitely one of those times, haha. Well, as most of you could probably guess, I'm being transferred! The place came as a bit of a shock, but I feel really good about it now. :) 

So, if you remember last week, I made a comment, as a joke, saying that they send all of the Canadian's North for the winter! Well, guess who's headed North?? Me! Haha. 

You probably recall seeing a little Island on the map included in my call packet when I opened my call. Well, after 5 and a half months in my beloved Koiwa, I am being transferred to the little island of Sado!! I'm still trying to get over my jitters from being nervous, but I really do feel good about it. I've heard from other missionaries that Sado is a really nature filled place and it is really beautiful. I'm excited to see grass again! (For the longest time I couldn't figure out what was missing in Tokyo.. There is no grass anywhere here! Haha) Apparently there are a lot of service opportunities in Sado too, so I'm really excited for that! Koiwa is one of the biggest wards in the mission, and now I'm transferring to one of the smallest wards in the mission. I'm sure it will be a great experience for me! :) 

My new companion's name is Sister Horito! I've met her a couple of times, and she is in Sister Ahn's Douki (MTC district), so she is just a transfer ahead of me! :) She is Japanese, but grew up in the States so she had to learn Japanese too! It should be fun! 

If you look on a map, I'm pretty much at the bottom of our mission right now in Koiwa, but Sado is almost the farthest North in the mission. On Wednesday morning, Sister Ahn and I will be traveling to the Honbu to pick up our new companions. The Sister who is replacing me is Sister Franks. She is really awesome! I've been on exchanges with her a couple of times and I feel like she is exactly what Koiwa and our investigators need. I was actually more worried about who would be replacing me in Koiwa than where I would be transferred to. I'm really grateful that I can feel at peace about leaving here. I know Koiwa is in good hands and that my friends here will be taken care of. Everyone here was hoping that I would be transferred somewhere else in Tokyo so I could be close by, but God really does know best. For the past week, everyone has been saying, "It better not be Niigata or Sado," haha. Tonight, we are having a fun ping pong activity at the church for our investigators and members. I'm a little bit nervous to tell everyone where I will be transferred to at the party, but I know it is where the Lord wants me to be. Yesterday at church, I told everyone that my parents would be coming to Japan next year! They were all really excited for that and told me to call them when the time came so that they could prepare a party and meal for them, haha. I love this Koiwa ward so much. I feel like I'm leaving home again. I feel like I'm saying goodbye to my family again! They are all so loving and kind. I'm sad to be leaving them for a little while, but I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to serve them and for everything they have helped me learn and see. I've heard it said that there isn't a lot of growth in an environment a person is accustomed to, and so I think it is important for change and unfamiliarity, but it is also another difficult time because of all the goodbyes. I think saying goodbye to people has been the hardest thing I have experienced on my mission so far.  I don't like to think about it, but leaving Japan will probably be so hard for me when the time comes. 

It takes a long time to get to Sado, and so after we exchange companions at the Honbu, I will be traveling to Niigata with all of the other missionaries transferring up north on a bus. I think we will be staying the night in Niigata and then make the tripe to Sado in the morning on Thursday. We will then be taking a 2 hour-ish boat ride to the Island of Sado... Pretty exciting! I've been wanting to ride in a boat since I arrived here in Japan, but missionaries aren't aloud to unless they serve in Sado. So, I get to ride in a boat finally and I'm way excited about that! :D 

A lot of missionaries joke that Sado is the 'exile' area because it is kind of cut off from the rest of the mission. The Sado and Niigata areas aren't able to attend temple P-day because it is too far away. I love temple p-day, but it looks like I may not be able to attend the temple for a few months. Kinda sad, but come what may and love it! :) I really am excited! 

This week was really special for me! Megumi and Minami Chan work at a restaurant called 'Red Lobster' close by and they said they wanted to take sister Ahn and I there before I leave. We went and it was a lot of fun! We ate some really yummy food and had a really nice visit with each other. Megumi Chan was working at the time, but we were able to see her a few times in between which was awesome! Just when I thought we had finished eating and it was time to go, they surprised me with a special plate of cake saying, "いすもありがとう ハバード姉妹," expressing their thanks and gratitude. It was so sweet of them to do that, and I was so surprised! They are so thoughtful and I'm so grateful for their friendship. This week I made them both sock monkeys between our dinner and lunch time. I'm excited to give the monkeys to them! I will send you pictures of the cake. A woman from the restaurant also came out and took our pictures and gave them to us. It was so fun! 

I feel like we saw many miracles this past week! We found 3 new investigators and they will all be coming to Eikaiwa on Wednesday. Even though I won't be here, I'm so excited we could find more people to teach! This is such a rich area! God is really blessing the people here. 

Megumi and Minami Chan were confirmed yesterday in Sacrament meeting, and it was such a sacred experience. They both had tears in their eyes and said that they couldn't describe what they were feeling, but that it was wonderful. The blessings pronounced in their confirmation blessings were beautiful and wonderful. I really felt that they were from God and that He was so pleased with them. They are so excited to go to the temple soon to do baptisms for their ancestors soon. Minami Chan's family is Buddhist and when they heard about our family history, they were really impressed. I think that they are both going to influence so many people, including their families, by joining he church. I am constantly amazing by their goodness and their testimonies. They are amazing! 

The past week has also been really busy as we have tried to visit all of our investigators before I leave. It's been bittersweet to say hello and goodbye to everyone, but I feel like I have done what I was supposed to do in this area, and learned the things I was supposed to learn. When the call came this morning and I heard where I was going, I feel like my mindset was changed and now I want to be in Sado. It was amazing to me how fast that change was able to come as I was called to serve somewhere else. Because this week has been so full of goodbyes, it was definitely a tender mercy for me because I didn't know how I was ever going to leave Koiwa and the people here. My heart is so full of gratitude for the opportunity I had to serve here. I'm excited to return someday! :) 

I'm sorry this email is a little shorter than usual. I've spent most of today cleaning and packing. I love you all so much, and am so grateful for you all. 

Love always, 

Sister Hubbard Xoxo 

Week 21 in Tokyo

 Sister Hubbard's district in Tokyo

These two and getting baptised on Sunday!!! :D ah! So proud of them,
and love them so much!

A big escalator in a train station, or the Sky Tree and it says "hang on tight" written on the side

 Zone lunch

Sisters in zone

Dearest family, 

I forgot to tell you all last week that my p-day would be on Tuesday this week because of Temple p-day! Haha, sorry. I'm safe and am doing well. The temple was really special today, and I really felt the Spirit strong as I went though. The temple is such an amazing place, and I'm so grateful we get to go once every transfer. 

This week has been crazy busy! I have a lot to write about, but I think I will tell you all a little bit about exchanges to start. 

As I mentioned last week, I went to Uraysu for exchanges and spent the night with Sister Wharton. It was a great exchange! We saw a lot of miracles together. We visited a couple people, and they were all amazing experiences, but I would like to share an experience that we had with a recent convert named Nadia. She is Mongolian, and joined the church earlier this year. She has been less active for the last little while. Sister Wharton and Sister Sargent had been trying to visit her for the past 2 transfers together, but every time they went, she wasn't home. Sister Wharton and I were so lucky she was at home when we went to visit! Anyway, Nadia doesn't speak very much Japanese, and she only knows a little bit of English, and so between the two languages it was a little bit difficult to teach her. During the lesson, she was having a hard time understanding what we were trying to say, so Sister Wharton suggested that I share a scripture with her. I flipped through my Book of Mormon and opened to Jacob 3:1-2 that were marked from a few days previous in my study. Nadia opened her Mongolian Book of Mormon and we read the scripture together. 

1 But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.

2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.

After reading the scripture, we asked her what she thought about it. There was a long pause... 

I felt impressed to ask another question at that time..."Nadia, when was the last time you felt God's love?" Nadia looked down, silently thinking about the question... With tears in her eyes,

She said that she felt God's love so strong at her baptism, but that she hadn't felt it since.

I thought to myself for a minute or so about what she was saying and how we might be able to help her. I felt impressed to pray together at that time. Before praying, I promised her that as we prayed together, that we would be able to feel God's love. I asked her to pay attention to her feelings and to listen as we prayed. This was such a powerful experience. I can't even begin to describe the feelings I felt at that time. As I prayed, I felt such a warm love for her. I felt so strongly of God's love for her. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget! Prayer is so powerful, and I learned that when we pray for others we are able to love them more too. Nadia agreed to come to church on Sunday before we left. Such a miracle! Amazing things happen on exchanges, that's for sure! 

This week, we also had interviews with president and sister Nagano! I was so excited to talk with them both. Interviews went really well, and I feel like I have grown closer to both of them. They are both so special. During my interview with president Nagano, we received some amazing revelation together. It was a really neat experience for me. I won't tell you all the details, but in the interview, after talking about my Koiwa area, there was a small pause... The spirit was really strong, and both of us looked at each other and president Nagano said that he felt it was time for me to transfer. It was really neat. I wasn't expecting him to tell me anything, but I was feeling the same way. It's so neat how the Spirit works. He said he didn't know for sure, but that He felt at that time that I should transfer to another area. Transfer calls are on the 31st, so I guess we will see what happens and where the Lord would have me be. I love this area so much, so if I am meant to stay, I will be so happy. Most sisters stay in an area for 2-3 transfers, so I have been really lucky to be here in Koiwa for 4 transfers. My interview with sister Nagano was really good too. She reminds me so much of Grandma Tessa! It's been really neat to talk with her and see how similar she is in the way she thinks, speaks, and just her mannerisms in general I guess. She is the sweetest person ever, and her heart is so big. She has so much love and she shares it with everyone. I'm so grateful for her and for President Nagano. I think I have a lot to learn from both of them as time moves forward. 

Lately, I've been able to see a big change in my Japanese-A huge blessing! Japanese is really a hard language, but I've learned that as I focus on loving people that I am always able to say what I need too. Sometimes I would like to say more, but I've learned that keeping it simple really is better. Sometimes, when we meet people who speak English, I start complicating things because I am able to say so much! Haha, maybe that's one of the reasons why I was called to speak Japanese, but it really is a blessing to be able to say what I need to. I can speak most of what I am thinking now, and so I'm really excited about that! Things always come little by little, and I've learned that patience really is a virtue, haha. I think I need a little bit more of it, but God is helping me and I can really see His hand in my life everyday. 

Well, this Sunday is really exciting!! Megumi and Minami Chan are being baptized after church and we are so excited for them!! They both have such amazing faith and are trying to read the whole Book of Mormon before Sunday. They inspire me so much, and I feel like they are so spiritually mature and sensitive to the Spirit. I think God knew that I would need them these past two transfers, and so He let me stay here with them. I'm really excited for their baptism! The ward is really involved in the program and they are preparing a special dinner for afterwards. The Ward has really reached out to them and they already have visiting teachers and many fellow shippers. I think the will have a strong support system within the church after I leave, which I am so grateful for. Ward members are so crucial in helping new converts and less actives. I feel like that this something I have definitely been able to see here in Koiwa. Anyway, we are so excited for them!! :) 

I'm pretty sure I told you about the Chinese girl that we found on the train last week, but if I didn't, this might be a little bit out of place, haha. We were able to meet with her this week for the first time! We are really excited about her! We decided to meet for ice cream and then walk to the church and give her a church tour. (My first transfer with Sister Trent, we decided that this is always a good combination- icecream and church tours, haha) After we gave her a tour of the church, we asked her if we could sing for her. She said yes, and sister Ahn began playing some of the primary songs on the piano in the Chapel. I sang, and the spirit was really strong. This Chinese girl began trying to sing along with us, and we could tell that she felt the Spirit. We gave her the lyrics to look at so that she could sing with us. After we finished singing, she told us that she wanted to come to church and that she felt a really peaceful feeling in her heart that she had never felt before. Such a miracle! 

I've said it before, but music really is so powerful! It has the ability to soften people's hearts and make them open to learning more about the gospel. So neat! The Spirit is always so strong when we sing hymns. 

Well, I think that's about all I have time for this week, but I love you all so much! Thanks for your letters and for all of your love and support. I'm so grateful to be here in Japan and to be a missionary.

Love always, 

Sister Hubbard 

Week 20 Japan Tokyo Mission

 Like an omelet with Bull Dog sauce on top.

 Daryn said that a watermelon is a rare treat as they cost about $100 for one watermelon.

Dearest family, 

Thanks for all of your letters! I love you all so much! Xoxo 

sorry this is kinda of late. We were really busy yesterday with p-day and our investigators, so I'm sending this letter today. 

This week has been really busy, and I think next week is going to be even busier! I'm excited for it though. Starting tomorrow we have exchanges and so I get to go dendou in Urayasu for a little while! My trainer, sister Trent, served in Urayasu for a few transfers, so I think it will be fun to experience a little bit of one of her areas. 

Also, this next week we have interviews with the new mission president! It will be the first time we have had personal time one on one with President and Sister Nagano since they've arrived here. I'm so excited to be able to talk to them both! They so special and I love them so much already. There is definitely a special bond between mission presidents and missionaries. 

I can't believe how fast this transfer is going! ...I remember saying that last transfer, and so I think that time might be getting faster...yikes! Anyway, this week has been really good. 

This week, I have been thinking a lot about how God prepares the hearts of people to hear the gospel. God really does this in so many ways, and that is something I feel like I have seen a lot of in the past week. God really does place people in our path every day who need to take the next step forwards in their lives-whatever that step may be. God knows who we are going to pass by on the street, on the train, and wherever else we go. He knows our desires as missionaries, and I've learned that it is so important to pray and ask for the Lord's miracles in our lives. 

Two days ago, sister Ahn and I were talking about an upcoming Chinese night activity in our mission. We talked about how it would be nice to be able to take a Chinese investigator to the activity, but that we didn't have a Chinese investigator. I prayed in my heart that day that we would be able to find someone to take to the activity and that this person's heart would be prepared for us. We had a few appointments that day and we were rushing around a lot. At one point we took a train..(I'm not sure what's with me and trains, but I feel like they are full of miracles, haha) On the train, I looked around at all the people who were sitting down. I sat beside a young adult named Hayashi who was Chinese! (I didn't know she was Chinese at first) 

We began talking and she asked me for our number and said she wanted to come to Chinese Night with us! It was such a miracle! I was so amazed! Later that day, she texted us and said thank you for talking to her on the train. We should be seeing her at Eikaiwa this Wednesday and we are really excited about her! She's the same age as us which is really neat too. Anyway, this experience was such a quick answer to prayer. It made me think about how involved our Heavenly Father really is in our lives. He knows our desires and if it is his will, anything can happen with his help. Sometimes, all we have to do is ask in Faith. That was a really neat experience for me. 

We taught a member referral this week, and it went really well I think! This investigator came to church a couple of weeks ago and at church she felt the spirit very strongly. She told her member friend after church that she thought she wanted to be baptized! Sister Trent and I taught this investigator a few times before this lesson, and with the way things were going at that point, we didn't think this investigator would progress very quickly, but things sure changed when she came to church! Anyway, our lesson went really well and we were able to talk to her about baptism! She expressed that she would like to be baptized, but because of how busy she is and how much more she needs to learn, she said that it might be a little while before she can be baptized. She said she would think about it some more, and that she would come to Minami and Megumi Chan's baptism on the 26th! So awesome! It's amazing how fast people can change when they really feel the spirit strong. 

We have a different investigator who lives just down the street from us. The past couple of months she hasn't been progressing, but since she lives so close to us, we always see her and are able to share a short message with her. Lately, we have just been focussing on Jesus Christ with her and have been talking about who he is and why he's so important. We've been showing her the short bible videos of Jesus Christ. This week, we showed her the video of Jesus Christ healing the man stricken with palsy. Usually after we show her the videos and try to talk about them in a way that we can invite the Spirit and help her feel it. For whatever the reason, I feel like her heart was more open to the message on this day. After the video, I asked a simple question, "what do you think about Jesus Christ?" Our investigator paused for a little while thinking. (She is usually very loud and outspoken about things and so this really surprised me). She said a lot at that time, talking about how she thought it was amazing that He could work such miracles. After she finished, she turned to me and asked me the same question. "Sister Hubbard, what do you think about Jesus Christ?" At that time, I felt the spirit enter the room really strong. I prayed so hard in my heart that my Japanese would pull through and that I would be able to say what I was thinking. It's hard to describe in words in English what I feel about Jesus Christ, and now my time had come to testify about Him in Japanese. After a little pause, I began speaking. I talked about how much I love Jesus Christ and about how grateful I am for Him. I felt the spirit so strong, even though I don't remember everything I said. I know the spirit was with me as I spoke. For the first time, I think this investigator felt something really strong in her heart. It was an amazing experience for me to see her start to feel the Spirit. It helped me love her so much and want the best for her. 

The Spirit really does speak all languages. It doesn't matter what we say, if it is spoken in the Spirit of the Lord, if the persons heart is open, they will feel the truth of the message. It's so neat to experience that everyday. God is able to take our efforts and make them something much bigger. I definitely felt that in this lesson. 

Today for p-day, we combined the east and west zones and went to Yoyogi Koen. It's a massive park near Shibuya. We played capture the flag and ultimate frisbee together and it was a lot of fun! Afterwards, we met with some of the other sisters and ate lunch together. We ate Indo curry which was delicious of course, haha. It's definitely one of my favorite foods here. :) 

Sister Ahn and I are continuing to work with the members in our ward closely. They are so amazing and are so willing to help us all the time. They love our investigators and are so excited for the baptism on the 23rd! Megumi and Minami Chan are really excited for their baptism too. We talked with them tonight about their baptismal interview, and they are so excited about everything. They are so sensitive to the Spirit and so genuinely good and caring. We love them so much! Sister Ahn and I are going to be working on the baptismal program the next two weeks making sure everything is planned out. It's such a happy time for everyone. :) Our ward is so special. I think it's amazing how the members are able to feed off of each others dendou fire so to speak. When one person gets excited about missionary work and invites their friends to church, others see the joy and want to do the same. This week, the assistants sent out a message that President Nagano wanted us to read. It is something Elder L. Tom Perry said in the new mission presidents conference just a couple weeks before he passed away. 

He said: "If you can get that spirit caught in the ward unit, that's strong and exciting and alive, then you'll start to see something happen with the missionaries that keeps their lives full. [they will have] the opportunities to teach every night, and when they get the teaching spirit, they'll not be able to leave it alone." 

I've definitely been able to see this in our ward as the 6 of us missionaries in Koiwa have strived to work closely with the members. It's amazing how excited everyone is about missionary work! It changes the way we are as missionaries too. The work is able to move forward as the members reach out to their friends. It's been so neat to see. I want to always strive to be that person in the ward who works closely with the missionaries after my mission. It makes all the difference in the work. There are only about 80,000 missionaries in the world right now, but there are a lot more members than that! Can you imagine what might happen if every member in the church made the decision to try and invite just one person to church all over the world? Or if every member decided today to pray for a missionary opportunity? I think there would be amazing miracles. There already are amazing miracles happening all over the world with members and missionaries. It has be prophesied throughout the scriptures that this message will be taken to all the world- that every nation, kindred, tongue, and people will hear this gospel message. We, as members of the church, play a huge role in bringing this to pass. Elder Nelson in a recent general conference said: 

"Together, members and missionaries invite all to learn of God, of Jesus Christ, and of His gospel. Each inquiring individual should seek earnestly and pray fervently for the assurance that these things are true. The truth will be manifest by the power of the Holy Ghost. I thank God and His Son, Jesus Christ, for the Restoration and its power to propel a magnificent wave of truth and righteousness across the earth. May we catch this wave and fulfill the Lord’s command to take the gospel “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I echo his plea and testimony to "catch the wave" of sharing the gospel. God is hastening his work, and we are so lucky to be living in this time. We are so privileged to be witnessing this great miracle! I invite you all to continue to pray for opportunities to share the gospel. "God sends prepared people to his prepared servants"- elder Eyring. 

I know that this message will someday be known in all the world. I know that Jesus Christ lives, and that He knows us perfectly. I feel His love and have seen His hands in my life. I know God answers our prayers and can bless us with a reassurance that everything will be okay. He wants to forgive us and bless us. He knows our weaknesses because He has felt them. He knows our struggles because He has struggled through them. He knows what makes us happy too, and so He blesses us with His tender mercies. I love this gospel so much. I'm so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week! 

Love always, 

Sister Hubbard