Sister Crofts-Called to Serve

January 6, 2014

あけましておめでとうございます! HAPPYNEWYEAR.

I can`t wait to start a new year and I can also say that I am so excited Sho Gatsu has come to an end! It has been super fun and I am so grateful for the members and all the people in this area. This last week, we have eaten at a member’s house for lunch and dinner... EVERY SINGLE DAY. Each of these members fed us insanely huge meals and honestly stuffed us to the core. It was absolutely incredible to spend time with them, get to know them better and to share some awesome spiritual messages with them. Sister Silva and I are literally in pain. Our bodies hurt. No normal human should ever have to eat that much! Fortunately we didn`t gain any weight, but we feel the burn, that is for sure. During sho gatsu, it is completely socially unacceptable to visit people unannounced and it puts a really bad image on the church if we do so. So the members set a schedule to feed us for lunch and dinner and help us to experience Japanese culture. We did shuji, went to some tea ceremonies at the temples and ate lots of very very very Japanese food. I loved it! Everyone had a break from their job and was free so it was super special. These Japanese people know how to party.

We are really looking forward to this next week of normal dendou! This is a short e-mail, but I love you! Here is a great quote from Elder Bednar. "Sometimes we may ask God for success, and he gives us physical and mental stamina. We might plead for prosperity, and we receive enlarged perspective and increased patience, or we petition for growth and are blessed with the gift of grace. He may bestow upon us conviction and confidence as we strive to achieve worthy goals. And when we plead for relief from physical, mental, and spiritual difficulties, He may increase our resolve and resilience." AMEN. The Church is true.

Love,

Sister Crofts