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About
The adventures and misadventures of Elder Shaw as he teaches among the Japanese, and is no doubt taught in return.
Head to the 'Profile,' section to read more about who I am, and what I believe in. For more information on where I actually am, please click
here.
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Profile
My name is Brian Shaw, though you can just call me エルダーショー (Elder Shaw). As of the 19th of May 2010, I have been rigorously engaged in serving the Lord by laboring to bring the Japanese people back to their savior, Jesus Christ; and I will continue to do so faithfully until the 19th of the same month in 2012.
I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I have an unshakable testimony that this church
is of Christ. I know Christ lives, and I know he suffered for my sins, so that I could return to live with my Heavenly Father after this life. I know that Joseph Smith, the founder of this church in the latter days, was called of God to restore Christ's authority to this earth, and establish the covenants and ordinances that were lost long ago. I also know that Joseph Smith was given a set of gold plates to translate into scripture called the Book of Mormon. I know the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
If you would like to know this just as I do, please click
here, or click
here for a
free copy of the Book of Mormon.
2 Nephi 25:26
"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."
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Entries
6.15.2010 / 3:10 PM
Nihongo wa muzukashi desu!
Hey everybody! First off, I'd just like to thank you all, yet again, for all the mail you sent me. It's really nice to get letters and mail and it certainly lifts my spirits when I get even a little message that says nothing more than "Your a good man Jack Donaghey... Thanks mee-cat." [A recent letter from Luke] So thanks everyone for doing that.
Last week I sent out a report of sort of what went on during my entire week. And then I realized, that really my week wasn't all that entertaining. So I apologize for that. And as always I was rushed for time, so it probably was a little scatterbrained as well. Anyways, instead I'd rather only mention a little about my week, and focus more on other things.
First. Last week was great! On the Tuesday night devotional last week, we had Elder Hales come and speak to us! That was a great highlight, and I'm very blessed to have already heard from two of the twelve. He spoke on obedience and gratitude and how both apply to receiving spiritual guidance. Great thought :)
Also last week, some people came in and filmed the Native Japanese speakers to broadcast at a Japan-wide Stake Conference that they are holding within the next two weeks. Because I am white, they obviously didn't film me or anything. However, they did film one of the Nihonjin (word for those native to Japan) as he played basketball with us. And while I was gaurding this specific Nihonjin, he sunk a three right on my head, right as the camera was focussed on both of us. So yeah. I'm going to be famous in Japan. Sweet eh? (Maybe infamous would be a better word than famous?)
At any rate, there is nothing else out of the ordinary to report. If you're really curious as to what I do. you can safely assume that I'm just studying. Always. Japanese is hard (see the subject!).
At any rate... Watashi no mokuteki wa, hitobito ni kirisuto no moto e kuru yo susumeru koto desu. That reads, my purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ. And as such, I figured I should engage and apply myself to that purpose as much as possible. And so, I would like to write about something I've been thinking a lot about lately: Missionary work.
It seems that time in and time out at the MTC people keep telling me of the same thing. It's also written in Pg.1 of Preach my Gospel... There are people, countelss people, who are waiting to hear the word of God, even searching for it, but they "know not where to find it." And isn't that a sad situation? And since every soul is of infinite worth to God (see D&C 18), it seems of utmost important to remedy the current situation, no? You probably already realize this, however.
What you might forget and/or not realize, is that beacuse of the worth of souls, God is working on preparing every person alive to receive and accept the gospel. And I mean actively preparing, and working with everyone individually. He's not sitting back in some office reviewing reports or something! God is actively working to prepare people. God is about his work long before the missionaries ever arive, and that's why God isn't surprised when people meet with the missionaries, or when people get baptized. He orchestrates it! It's sometimes hard to see how God is working with people, but he always is.
The point is: Missionay work starts with God, and not the missionaries.
And that is great news! It means people I find are waiting to hear the gospel! And, more importantly, it means that people are waiting for you to find them, and to teach them. Yes, you. Mom. Dad. Kristy. Jen. Luke. Grandma. Uncle Dave. Bishop Hill. Brother so-and-so and even Sister Her-Last-Name. Everyone! God doesn't stop preparing people for our path just because we aren't serving a full time mission!
Opportunities are out there, and we have to be ready to do all we can when those opportunities come (see D&C 123:17)
If you wouldn't mind. Please google Elder Marvyn B. Arnolds recent talk, and watch it/read it. Then come back and finish my e-mail.
Isn't that a great talk? I want to focus specifically on Brother Markys (spelling?). Are you prepared to wake someone up, for the gospel? Are you prepared to wait outside their house, for the gospel? Are you prepared to find them at the beach, for the gospel? To pull them straight out of the ocean, for the gospel?
Well, you have to be. And I have to be as well. And if we are, we can expect miracles just like D&C 123:17 says!
I know it's hard. And I know we're all "busy," but opportunities to share Christ's gospel come to ALL of us. Full time service or not. Are we ready to do all in our power to bring someone else to Christ? I pray so. All those who have been warned have a responsibility to warn their neigbour. We've been warned, so what are we waiting for.
You might be thinking, "Well what can I do?" How can I invite somone to come unto Christ? In answer, I ask you to get them to Church. Get them to sacrament meeting. Get them to read the Book of Mormon, and get them to Pray. God's preparing them already to do that, but they need you, not the full-time missionaries, to find and challenge them. I know that to be true.
And I know that I'm by no means perfect at this, and before I came on my mission I was even farther from perfection in this regard... However, I hope that doesn't detract from my message. I also know that I've been rushed for time... And as a result I may have stumbled in my words and spelling, but I hope you'll be willing to look past that and come to realize how true my message is. I also know that Christ loves me. And you. He wants us to share his Gospel. I want to share his gospel, my happiness, with everyone. Christ knows us personally, and knows every other person who lives personally, and is preparing them for us. I hope and pray we will all do all we can to accomplish that. Please remember that God has been so wonderful to us, and blessed us all so much, and please, live deliberately. In Jesus name, Amen.
PS. I sent a large amount of pictures to Emily. Be sure and check out the blog soon! And if you want any specific picture, just e-mail me which one it is and I'll print an individual copy out for you. They're only like 5 cents to buy here... So. Yeah.
I love you all! Until next week!
Sincerely,
エルダーショー
Elder Shaw
