Week 24: The Ammon Missionary

Hello Everyone!!!

This week was INCREDIBLE!  Brother H was baptized! MOST INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE!

When he was baptized, and the doors to the font were closed (so it was just me and him), I decided to follow the advice of a wise Mission Prep teacher (Aka Brother Pinkston), and ask Brother H what he was feeling, and this was his description (translated, of course), "When I was down in the water, I felt a light enter into my heart! Thank you! Thank you!"

The Spirit was strong, and I can't wait to see ALL of Tokyo have the same experience!

After the baptism, Brother H bore his testimony, and explained how much he just wanted to continue becoming a good person! He expressed his excitement to be a member and to just grow into a stronger and stronger member from here! So... he is pretty solid.

So... other things this week... We also met with Brother J again! It has been a while since he is pretty busy... when we invited him to be baptized if he came to feel the truth of our message, he said that he wasn't willing to. Rather disappointed, to be honest. Basically just offered him the greatest happiness in the world, and he turned it down! We still plan on teaching him a little more, but if he doesn't start progressing, there isn't much we can do. :P That is the worst part of missionary work - when people know enough to act for themselves, and they choose not to!

On the other hand, we taught a different Brother H - and he said yes to baptism! Still a rather loose commitment (if you feel this is true, and are able to prepare yourself), but it is still a good goal to set. Perhaps we should just start teaching people whose names start with H! haha. Jk. He is the father of a family of 3. We met him after Eikaiwa, and he seems to have a good amount of interest in church! Excited to see where it goes from here!

We were also able to teach Brother F this week. He is looking more and more golden! This week, he was just curious about how he could get answers from God to help guide and support his family. Could he have better desires? He is progressing well, except that church is hard to come to... :P That is a hard one for the Japanese. They all just work WAY too much!

Well... I know this doesn't flow very well... but today is rather busy... lots of office work! Making some Christmas videos and other mission wide stuff for the Naganos, so I have over 100 emails to take care of! AHHH!!

But this was my Spiritual thought for the week:

Think of Ammon. No, not Ammon Price, but the other Ammon, though both are pretty cool.

He has an incredible turn around. He leaves for his mission, boldly going to the Lamanites. His FIRST DAY in the field, he is thrown into prison! From there, he has a probably rather nerve racking interview in front of a king with a reputation for killing Nephites and servants alike, where he had to turn down the king's request. Then, after three days of doing his best, no success has come. All that he has accomplished is that he has given his life away to the service of a king.

Then, just to make things worse, his sheep are scattered. What does he do? He quickly plans, and REJOICES... would that be my first reaction to seeing a group of armed men who were in number not a few? probably not. But, Ammon held to the promises of protection from the Lord, and went to face the army by himself. I feel that it is important to note that the Lamanites felt that any one of there soldiers could take care of him. He was not a mighty man, just a faithful one. 

What I want to focus on is that Ammon never freaks out, complains, or anything of the sort. He loves, he thinks quickly and seemingly calmly, and presses forward in faith. 

You know, I always wanted to be the "Ammon Missionary" - but I don't think I ever realized what that would take. He went alone through many trials, and stood alone against an entire army of men! He relied on the Lord through fasting and prayer, but he didn't abandon the Lord when things looked impossible. He rejoiced, knowing that this was just an opportunity for the Lord to work miracles!

So, when things get crazy in life, though you may not be thrown into prison or faced with an army, choose to stay by the Lord! He will work miracles in your life if you will let him, but not until after the trial of your faith!

STAY AWESOME!

Go share the Gospel! Nothing is better than "feeling the light in your heart" 

Hurrah for Israel!
Elder O'Reilly

P.S. A note from Thomas's mom: We are so excited to Skype Thomas on Christmas day! It will be the first time we've ever gotten to Skype one of our missionaries! I also wanted to include a little of what he wrote to me: "So... yeah. Words don't describe how I feel right now... but as close as I can get:

Incredibly happy.
I want to share that happiness with EVERYONE!
Very peaceful, and like things are actually going up from here!

SO... yes. I'm both satisfied, and more excited to work than ever."

Feeling very blessed! Merry Christmas everyone!

Home Made Takoyaki!

This Christmas I am giving Christ...
my fears, excuses, & distractions
So He can turn them into
boldness, determination, and a focused heart & mind.

Baptism!!!