Week 67: A Gospel of Joy!

Hello Everyone!!

Last week's General Conference was AMAZING!!! It inspired me to change, to have more sincere repentance, and know my Savior better through preparation and taking the Sacrament.

Now, let me tell you, repentance is not an easy process. Changing ourselves is an active process, and it takes work! I think in the process I learned a little of what is meant in the scriptures by "sore repentance" (Mosiah 23:9), and "wrestle which I had before God, for a remission of my sins" (Enos 1:2). Certainly, only a love for the Savior, a better understanding of the suffering He went through, and hearing the word of God can trigger such actions to change!

For some reason, as I talk with youth in my ward, and people that I meet, somehow, repentance has such a bad image. I think that Satan works hard to make it that way to eliminate the important process which is essential to our life purpose: to have joy!

As a result of our increased desire to do what is right, repent, and come closer to God, two major things happened. First, we felt great joy as the Spirit came and cleansed us from sin. I never have lived a perfect day in my life, but the Spirit comes powerfully as the cleansing agent when we repent. Daily repentance and striving to keep our covenants is how the Spirit becomes our constant companion.

Second, a greater level of sincerity entered our work. The same Spirit that was working in us, worked through us. People felt that sincerity (and love towards them, which comes from the same Spirit), and they felt the Spirit that we carried.

For the first time in Shibuya, we had people come to church! Three people came, some who we were directed to and talked to on the street! And one other we found also went to church in Hiroo, the English Ward. He has a baptismal date with the Elders there, and already feels like the church is true. Certainly, they had felt that same Spirit we had!

As I sat with my new friend, prayerfully waiting for the Sacrament to be passed to me, I was hit by a wave of the Spirit. Both cleansing and edifying. Powerful and beautiful. I know this church is true, that the Priesthood of God is found in it, and that these ordinances are His way of making promises with us. How merciful and wonderful is a God who will continually make and keep promises with me, though I continually make and break them with Him!

Now, I wish I had some more specific stories to give, or interesting details to give, but the Lord works in small and simple ways, as He always does. For instance, one day, we planned on making several visits to those we felt we should (members and less actives and such)  none were home, but we found new investigators at every location, two of which came to church this week! Taking that path also helped us "find" a less active from Nakano who recently moved closer to Shibuya. We were friends, and we will meet this week for lunch and he said he would like to try the Shibuya Ward out! Miracles happen as we get in tune with the Spirit of the Lord!

I suppose I learned a simple, but great lesson this week - before we share the joy of the Gospel with others, we have to experience it ourselves (1 Ne 8:10-12). So take time to experience joy this week! Come to know the Savior, not just of Him, through prayer, repentance, and partaking of the Sacrament! It's not about being good enough, but rather that we will be good enough in the process of continual repentance and coming to know the Savior better!

As you experience the joy, sharing it will be a natural result; and in doing so, your own joy will be magnified! This truly is a Gospel of Joy!

Love you All!

Hurrah for Israel!

Elder O'Reilly

Family we visited! The girl in the front had a fun app... Haha.

Birthday Mail!

Hello Everyone!

This is the missionary mom! Just wanted to get the word out that Thomas has a birthday on October 23rd! He turns 20 in just 10 days!! Woah!

So, if you would like to send a card/letter/picture/etc... I know he would love it! It costs a little more to send international mail... so $1.15 for a regular envelope.

Thanks for all your love and support!!
Denise


Elder Thomas Ray O'Reilly 
Japan Tokyo Mission
4-25-12 Nishi-ochiai
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo-to 
161-0031 JAPAN

Week 66: Tokyo Temple!!! :)

Hello Everyone!!!

Just got out of the Temple!! It was fantastic!! :) first time in a LONG while. Missionaries in Niigata don't get to go, so this is the first time since I was Tech Staff... That was January, maybe? Anyways. I think it was the second time this year. I've missed the close communion you can have there. Going in a session is like being hit by a wave of the Spirit!! It's always hard to leave. I would encourage all to spend time there regularly!! It is such a great blessing.

This week has been fantastic all around. Unfortunately, the investigators we were working with the most dropped off the map. However, we found more investigators this week than we had in total before. In addition, I was able to get into contact with one of my former investigators from Niigata (the one that read the story of Laban and decided he needed to read the whole Book of Mormon). He moved to Shibuya, which is the reason we stopped teaching him before. We referred him over to the Elders here, but apparently, they never actually got into contact with him (maybe they called at the wrong times?). He seems excited to meet, but is busy this week (he freaked out over the phone when I told him I had moved to Shibuya), so it will have to wait until next week. That is Brother D.

Then, we were able to meet with another investigator, Brother T. He hadn't been progressing too well, so we weren't sure if we would continue meeting with him. He was "busy," so we couldn't meet too often, and he wasn't really willing to commit to much. However, his dream is to have a good family, unlike the one he grew up in. We decided to have a Family Home Evening with him in a members home, and he seemed to enjoy it very much. I think it may have become motivation for him, so that he can have that kind of family! We were able to set a goal for his baptism on the 19th of November, but it's still conditional on his getting a confirmation of it's truth. However, he said he wanted to read and pray everyday, and come to church when he can, so it should go over just fine. :)

Also met with a few people on the street that literally gave us their number after we introduced ourselves. One was Brother A. Met with him for lunch, and found that he simply wanted to learn about Christianity, since he feels like he doesn't get to hear about it much in Japan. He was absolutely certain that he can't believe something he can't see, but we explained to him about Spiritual senses, and he said he will try to read the Book of Mormon and pray - but with more of the goal of learning who Christ is than whether or not it is true. But if he has any real intent whatsoever, I think it will be awesome! :) We'll see. We meet with him again on the 22 of the month.

I'm not sure which of our other investigators will pan out, but all of them were AWESOME! We've been super busy (planning zone meetings, interview with the president - which means we stay inside and check all 24 missionaries iPads from 8-4, meeting with the leadership of the mission, etc), but as we strive to follow the Spirit and accomplish His work, miracles happen, everything comes together, and the work in our area is actually going better than ever!

I know that God lives and loves us! Don't ever take it for granted; remember to express gratitude, and ENJOY the Gospel daily!!

Love you all!
Hurrah for Israel!
Elder O'Reilly

Mission Leader Conference
(picture from Sis. Nagano on facebook)

Played soccer with some investigators!

Week 64: Was that a week ?!?!

Hello Everyone!!!

So.... This week FLEW by. And I have five minutes before I leave for Nakano for splits. Kind of out of time. Sorry. :P

Some things that happened this week -

Played basketball with Bro S. He still wants to be baptized and thinks (isn't sure) that our church is true!!! Just need to overcome the boundary of his parents...

GOT TONS OF FOOD FROM MEMBERS!!! And a great meal of Navajo tacos. :)

Visited with the Bishop, set goals for the area for one baptism per missionary until the end of the year. We will be activating families and talking to relatives to do so. Excited about the plans to work with the ward!

Well... Biggest thing that happened this week that I remember is talking in church. I got to introduce myself. Hey. I'm Elder O'Reilly. I like natto sandwiches and my dream is to be Japanese. Got a good laugh out of it... And then I changed the words I planned on speaking in the moment. Shared entirely different scriptures, and entirely different thoughts. Certainly a testimony that the words will be given in the very moment. It takes faith to see that promise be fulfilled - throwing away my own thoughts and plans - but the Lord makes the best out of everything! I was able to feel the Spirit, and the words came clearer and faster than ever before. I can testify that the gifts of the Spirit are still in the world today, and come as we follow the Spirit. All things testify of Him, and all the experiences I have had here in Japan lead me to Testify of Christ. Jesus is the Christ. He suffered for each of us, because He loves each of us unconditionally and unwaveringly. Through Him we can do ALL things!

Love this work and all of you!!!

Hurrah for Israel!

Elder O'Reilly

Visited a member when it was raining pretty hard. Blast!

Had lunch with the Bishop! American restaurant!

P.S. Our apartment is SUPER close to Shibuya station and Shibuya Crossing (famous crossing). This is where we visited when we picked up Skeets. I see it almost every day now. ALWAYS SO MANY TOURISTS!!! So a lot of people think I am a tourist too. Haha

(If you want to see Shibuya Crossing, there are lots of videos on youtube.com. Here is a time lapse that shows  it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VkejRjA1nA )

Week 63: New Area, New Pace, New People!

Hello Everyone!!!!

So... Shibuya is AWESOME!!! PEOPLE EVERYWHERE!!! Niigata is one of the larger areas in the mission with less people. Shibuya is probably one of the smaller areas, with probably one of the highest populations in the world. Bit of a contrast.

Some cool things about Shibuya:

1. We have a house. The Shibuya house has 8 elders in it. Always some thing interesting going on!!!

2. We have a door that was transformed into a Book of Mormon. We also have the largest crossing in the world. It's a five minute walk from the church. So, if we have a minute, we bring the door sized Book of Mormon to the corner, and talk to SOOO many people! We did it with everyone once. Quite a blast...

3. SOOO many members!! And we actually have a young men's program. And a primary. Niigata really didn't have either. Already know the names of the youth and I feel like we are friends. Played a game with them this week that if I couldn't remember their name I had to give them chocolate. Remembered most of their names... But there are twins that can get to be pretty tricky (walked out of the room, and they switch seats, etc).

So... Being in Shibuya is pretty interesting. SOOO many foreigners. In Niigata, you would see one very rarely. Here there are so many!

As far as the work goes here, we have two new investigators that told us they would like to be baptized! (When they find out it is true, but I'm pretty confident that it will click for them.) To quote one of them, "I think Joseph Smith has the right idea. How else could you get the truth when there are so many interpretations?" Brother S is progressing well, but we will need to work with his parents because he is not 20 yet.

As a Zone Leader, we already had our first Zone Meeting! First morning I was here... Little rough, but the Spirit was there and it worked out in the end. Wish we could have had more time to prepare, especially with both me and my companion having just become the Zone Leaders here. Just took the previous leaders ideas, put our spin on it, prepared our trainings, and went for it. Haha.

Though I was a Zone Leader in Niigata, Tokyo is very different. Much larger Zone, and I feel like I'm way too small for the responsibility all over again. But, I find again that the Lord makes things work as we put trust in Him! He has a plan for all of us, and He doesn't plan on any of His children failing. It's just a matter of getting in tune with that plan.

Well... Hope you all have a great week! Things are AWESOME here!

Hurrah for Israel!
Elder O'Reilly

Strive! LA and investigator class with missionaries. Yes, my
companion's the one in the front. Haha. He is the BEST!

Some info about the new companion & area:

Companion: Elder Murakami

From: Okinawa 

how long out: only 2 transfers left

family size: 7 people!

converts/generation: 2nd generation

We get along great. :) Zone Meeting was great! Spirit was there! Lot's of new missionaries, and we had them testify. :)

ward/branch: Branch

how many people: 90?

was your companion already in this area: yes, 5 transfers, but they changed the Zone Leader area,

so we are both kind of new in a way.

how many in the apartment:  8 Elders. CRAZY! Just one shower - but it isn't too bad. We have a schedule and everything. :)

Basically a house. 2 floors, even bigger than the Honbu!

Week 62: Goodbye, Niigata!

Hey Everyone!!!!

Ok. So... I have to leave Niigata. Makes me rather sad. LOVE the people here, and I just love this area. Great missionaries, loving members, and INCREDIBLE investigators. Sad to leave it all behind.

From here, I am going to Shibuya!!! WAY excited. SO MANY PEOPLE. I'll be a Zone Leader there as well. And Zone Meeting is on Friday. And my companion wasn't a zone leader there before either. So.... I just planned Zone Meeting two days ago, and I'll plan another in two days... For missionaries I don't really know. Needless to say, I'll be seeking lots of revelation. Either way, TONS of new missionaries this transfer (29), so lots of entirely new missionaries to help!

Anyways... This week was filled with Miracles.

Brother I. came to church! He was excited to testify to everyone, talk about the Book of Mormon with the members, and tell everyone he was being baptized on the 25 of this month. He's basically awesome.

After church, we taught him the Word of Wisdom. He told us that it was a little difficult to stop tea and coffee, but we taught the blessings, and he told us he would keep it before I could even finish the commitment!

We also met with Bro H, the 19 year old student, this week, and he should be baptized on the 9th of next month. He struggles to come to church, but he's trying to get work off to come this week! Please pray for him! Way nice kid, though. He particularly loves prayer, and should be progressing well!

Also, we were in a threesome this week, so I got to teach Bro O again, and some of my old investigators (in the process, one of them finally set a date to get baptized!!!). I have to leave Niigata, but at least I get to leave when it's on FIRE! Jacob also got a break from work, and came to Stake Conference. So... Basically all the people I've been working with have been choosing to progress wonderfully lately. Makes me very happy.

This past week, I got to give a blessing to two members. They came with the same problem, and the first thought that crossed my mind is, will I tell both the same thing? Second thought that came to mind was that I wouldn't be telling them anything.

As I laid my hands on their heads, inspiration came to mind that gave me a depth of knowledge into their personal needs and what blessing should be given. As I did so, I felt powerfully God's love for these two sisters.

I know without a doubt that God knows each of us perfectly. Despite knowing our weaknesses and mistakes, He loves us and desires our happiness. I testify that Christ's Priesthood has been restored to the earth and is found in His church!! And because He loves us so much, He gives us access to that power! What a blessing to have direct communication and help through Him! And of course, I know that all is made possible, and done only through the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I hope you rely on Him daily by making repentance a habit! Don't ever live short of the blessings that God has put in your life!

Love you all!

Hurrah for Israel!
Elder O'Reilly

Niigata Zone

Mission Leader Conference, with President Nagano

Mission Leader Conference

District Lunch! 

My two companions for the week! And Brother H, the golden student!

Week 61: Daily Nourishment

Hello Everyone!

Time is FLYING! Next week is transfer calls. Everyone keeps telling me I'll probably leave Niigata. Pray for me to stay please! Haha. But I'll be happy no matter how it works out.

This week was interesting! One of the Elders in our zone got in a bike crash. So... My last companion went to take his place. And now we have his companion. So threesome. TONS of appointments. And many actually fell through. So kind of just really fast biking and some missed appointments. Way fun! :)

But don't worry. We had some miracles in there, too. First, Brother I prayed for the first time. He got his answer. I think he will be baptized on the 25. :) Then, another investigator, Brother H, set a baptismal date for the 9th of next month. He loves prayer and the Book of Mormon. He was super solid in his answer. No hesitation. :) just need to get him to church a bit more. And he will need parent permission cause he is 19 (which is still a minor in Japan - yes, in reality, I am still a child haha).

Also got back in contact with Jacob this week! He actually participated in a lesson for us this week! Which is awesome. :) hopefully we can get him back at church again.

Big thing that has been on my mind as I work with youth and see so many less actives is the importance of daily spiritual nourishment. You know, eating food is a perfect analogy for our spiritual health as well. Do you skip meals? Maybe occasionally. Does it feel good? No. Do you skip meals if you get busy? Does eating get boring? No. Spiritual food needs to be the same! Don't spiritually starve yourself! Nothing is worth that! Eating your daily spiritual meals, not just occasional snacks, is essential!

Hurrah for Israel!
Elder O'Reilly

No pics this week... But we're in the mission office, and we got
haircuts... So that's something. My companion also convinced me to get
my hair shampooed. Biggest waste of money EVER! Not doing that again.
Haha