Aaron's letter 12-16-08

We have a meal this Sunday for sure and after that are not sure but we are recieving a cake from an awesome little member named Saito Shimai! She is way cool and told us she is giving us a cake next Tuesday!

We had the Uutau Senkyoushi which was a group of five performing missionaries
that went around to each zone and put on an awesome show. I hope to be in it
next year. So we'll see.

Hey All!!!
Well lots of fun this week and the reason I am on today and not Monday is because it is transfer week!! The transfer news is.....(drum roll)...Elder Koyama and I are staying together another transfer!!!!!! WOOT!!! It will be loads of fun and at the end of which, in February, I will have been in Toyama 6 months! Wow...crazy how time flies!!
Another sweet thing is that before Christmas, so maybe at our zone Christmas party this Friday, all Nagoya missionaries (well companionships) are getting cell phones!! Its a new thing they are doing to adapt to the changing times. We will probably also get to text investigators as well and what not. It will be such a good thing to be able to keep in better touch with them in a way that they frequently use!! So, how cool is that!!
This week has been loads of fun and good times...a few more fasts and lots of good insights from personal and comp study!
I just love missionary work!! Yeah, it's not always the most progressive work (in Japan), but something good is always happening, whether its personal growth or some other way!!
I have also learned so much from my Japanese comp as well...he is a stud and just learning about the culture through him helps a lot!! haha, just funny things too like when he gets in the shower he ( and I actually do it too now ) says, *shawa ni hairimasu* which just means I am geting in the shower but its kind of for my approval as well...just a little culture thing that made me laugh at first!
Another thing our mission has started from last week is from 8-8:30 in the morning at the beginning of study we take whatever time we need to pray in special need of us reaching our goal of 150 baptisms this year. We have a list of all those with dates and pray that everything will go well with them as well as those we are focusing on to get dates!! It has been a great time drawing closer to Heavenly Father and feeling of his support on our shoulders! He really does know our needs and help us al the time. Another thing I saw Elder Koyama do that I now do is start the prayer session by opening my scriptures...I just open randomly to a page and read the first thing that pops! It has actually been quite insightful!! Monday's was Doctrine and Covenants 10:70. (please look up)
It refers to Christ and it toally made that prayer session all the more meaningful!!
There is just so much I could talk about with the gospel blessings!!
We are always feeling of the Lords love and help in our life! I completely know with all my heart that we can be eternal families and that God has made it all possible through Jesus Christ, who is our loving older brother, Savior and Redeemer. The Book of Mormon IS the word of God and by reading and studying from its pages we can so fully draw closer to our Heavenly Father and feel of His love. That is one thing I have started trying to do when housing. I am trying to testify at each door about the Book of Mormon and get them to accept reading from it...its such a blessing having a Book of Answers to life and we can all benefit from its love and knowledge!
Well hey I love you all and wish you the best time ever at Christmas!! As well as can't wait to talk to many of you on that day as well! And remember, its CHRISTmas, so have fun drawing closer to Him!
The church is true!!
Elder Parks