The smallest Nutella bottle known to man. It is literally a one time use and be done type of thing. Sasuga Nihon.
FHE at Suzuki Shimai's house.
Yes, eyeballs are so yummy. It was so hilarious because before Takahashi Shimai grabbed one with her chopsticks, she said, えびさん. Maybe you are the only one who will get this dad. But they even add san to things that they are about to eat. Funny.
June 16, 2014
Happy Fathers Day to all you dads out there. Thank you for being who you are! I'm sure many of you might have seen this before, but it has always been a favorite of mine. Enjoy: Men on earth have the opportunity to become fathers and experience some of the same joys that our Heavenly Father feels for us. Fatherhood is a divine responsibility to be cherished. http://www.lds.org/video/mormon-messages/earthly-father-heavenly-father Now, let me tell you about some of the miracles/lessons I learned this week. First if all, I've been thinking about the small and simple things. That's really all this gospel is and my mission has really strengthened my testimony of that. I wanted to share with you a talk that has always hit me strong. Maybe one of you, maybe more needs this in your life right. I pray that is the case. It is called A Matter of a Few Degrees. "In 1979 a large passenger jet with 257 people on board left New Zealand for a sightseeing flight to Antarctica and back. Unknown to the pilots, however, someone had modified the flight coordinates by a mere two degrees. This error placed the aircraft 28 miles (45 km) to the east of where the pilots assumed they were. As they approached Antarctica, the pilots descended to a lower altitude to give the passengers a better look at the landscape. Although both were experienced pilots, neither had made this particular flight before, and they had no way of knowing that the incorrect coordinates had placed them directly in the path of Mount Erebus, an active volcano that rises from the frozen landscape to a height of more than 12,000 feet (3,700 m). As the pilots flew onward, the white of the snow and ice covering the volcano blended with the white of the clouds above, making it appear as though they were flying over flat ground. By the time the instruments sounded the warning that the ground was rising fast toward them, it was too late. The airplane crashed into the side of the volcano, killing everyone on board. It was a terrible tragedy brought on by a minor error--a matter of only a few degrees.1 Through years of serving the Lord and in countless interviews, I have learned that the difference between happiness and misery in individuals, in marriages, and families often comes down to an error of only a few degrees. Is There a Lesson for Our Lives in These Examples? Small errors and minor drifts away from the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring sorrowful consequences into our lives. It is therefore of critical importance that we become self-disciplined enough to make early and decisive corrections to get back on the right track and not wait or hope that errors will somehow correct themselves. The longer we delay corrective action, the larger the needed changes become, and the longer it takes to get back on the correct course--even to the point where a disaster might be looming. You men of the priesthood have been entrusted with a great responsibility. Just think of it: our Heavenly Father trusts you young deacons, teachers, and priests with the “key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel.”13 You men of the Melchizedek Priesthood have received an oath and a covenant in which you have been promised all the Father has if you magnify your priesthood.14 The Lord reminds us that “unto whom much is given much is required.”15 Those who bear the priesthood of God have a great responsibility to be examples of goodness to the world. We live up to these expectations when we quickly recognize the dangers and influences that tempt us to drift from the Lord’s way and when we courageously follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost to make decisive corrections that will bring us back on course. This conference is being translated into 92 languages and broadcast to 96 countries by the miracle of modern technology. Many of you brethren attend general conference by means of the Internet. New technologies such as this make it possible for the gospel message to be spread throughout the world. The Church Web sites are good examples of how you can use this technology as a wonderful resource of inspiration, help, and learning. They can be a blessing for you priesthood holders, your families, and the Church. But be cautious. These same technologies can allow evil influences to cross the threshold of your homes. These dangerous traps are only a mouse click away. Pornography, violence, intolerance, and ungodliness destroy families, marriages, and individual lives. These dangers are distributed through many media, including magazines, books, television, movies, and music, as well as the Internet. The Lord will help you to recognize and avoid those evils. It is the early recognition of danger and a clear course correction that will keep you in the light of the gospel. Minor decisions can lead to major consequences. Entering a strange and risky chat room on the Internet could lead you into the center of a raging storm. Putting a computer in a private room that the rest of the family cannot access could be the starting point for a deceitful and dangerous journey. But the Lord requires not only outward acts but also your inner thoughts and feelings to be close to the spirit of the law.16 God “require[s] the heart and a willing mind.”17 We, the priesthood of God, have the responsibility and the power of self-direction: “It is not meet that I should command in all things,” saith the Lord. “Men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; for the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves.”18 Our Heavenly Father knew before we came to this mortal existence that negative forces would tempt us to drift from our course, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”19 That is why He prepared a way for us to make corrections. Through the merciful process of true repentance and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our sins can be forgiven and we will “not perish, but have everlasting life.”20 Our willingness to repent shows our gratitude for God’s gift and for the Savior’s love and sacrifice on our behalf. Commandments and priesthood covenants provide a test of faith, obedience, and love for God and Jesus Christ, but even more importantly, they offer an opportunity to experience love from God and to receive a full measure of joy both in this life and in the life to come. These commandments and covenants of God are like navigational instructions from celestial heights and will lead us safely to our eternal destination. It is one of beauty and glory beyond understanding. It is worth the effort. It is worth making decisive corrections now and then staying on course. Remember: the heavens will not be filled with those who never made mistakes but with those who recognized that they were off course and who corrected their ways to get back in the light of gospel truth. The more we treasure the words of the prophets and apply them, the better we will recognize when we are drifting off course--even if only by a matter of a few degrees. What If We Have Drifted Far off Course? Now, brethren, there are those who have neglected to make appropriate course corrections and now believe that they are too far from the Lord’s way to ever make it back. To them we proclaim the good news that is the gospel of redemption and salvation. No matter how terribly off course you are, no matter how far you have strayed, the way back is certain and clear. Come, learn of the Father; offer up a sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Have faith, and believe in the cleansing power of the infinite Atonement of Jesus the Christ. If we confess and repent of our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.21 “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be [made] as white as snow.”22 It may not be an easy path, and it requires self-discipline and determination, but its end is glorious beyond description. You are not doomed to a tragic end. Many are eager to assist you--your family, bishops and stake presidents, your quorum leaders, and home teachers. Of course, your greatest friend is the all-powerful Creator of the universe. It is His priesthood you bear. He understands your sorrow. He knows your grief. He and our Father in Heaven will bless, comfort, and strengthen you; They will walk beside you and carry you as you strive to right your course. My dear brethren, you are truly choice and precious sons of Heavenly Father. He has entrusted you with the sacred power of the priesthood. Please do not drift off course, not even a few degrees." I testify that this is so true! Next miracle/lesson. Sakai Shimai is a less active. Her records aren't even actually in our ward records. She was baptized in Yokohama and moved here. We found her in the area book. We don't even know how the previous missionaries knew about her. It seemed from the records that she wasn't getting anywhere. We called her up and she kept telling us that we shouldn't waste our time on her. She was sick and hadn't been to church in years. At times, during our phone conversations the last couple of weeks, she has been hysterical telling us that she still prays, but sometimes she prays that she will just die. No matter how many times she told us that she couldn't meet, we didn't give up. Because we didn't have her records, we had now way of knowing where she lives. We called again, and simply asked for 5 minutes to take to her by an eki she told us she lives close to. Before she arrived, we did kubarikai. She saw us trying our hardest to find new people to teach and however short our first visit might have been, we established a relationship of trust. She didn't think anyone cared about her. We looked back at the records in the area book and found a member who knew her. We set up a dinner appointment with the member and her at the church. It was pouring rain that day, and she still came. Getting her into the church without actually having church was a really good way to ease her into coming to church this week. She has totally changed in this short time. She is happy and the members were so good to her telling her they need her and are glad she is back. I love this story. It was and still is super faith promoting for me. Never give up on anyone. Another never give up story is actually about someone in Kasukabe that me and Sister Miyaki found. Her name is Bibiche. She is actually a referral of Blanche, if you remember her. Natsukashi ne. Oh, wait, I need to tell you about Blanche a little more. I didn't feel like I should tell you back then, but I feel like now is okay. While she was taking the lessons and had a baptismal date, she asked us a strange question. She asked if those who are pregnant can be baptized. Me and Sister Miyaki thought it was sort of strange and then she told us she might be pregnant. Not something we really wanted to deal with, but.... Well this one day we just felt really prompted to ask her about plans with if she was pregnant. To make a long story short, had we not asked that question and talked about it, she would not be having babies. When I say babies, I mean babies. It turns out that she is having twins and she is about ready to pop so I hear. Wow, what a miracle. Talk about saving lives. I knew missionaries help save spiritually, but that day, we saved physically as well. Anyway, back to Bibiche. We got her number and she was supper friendly and we tried setting up appointment after appointment, after appointment with her. There were times when we would just wonder if we could teach her just once. Well, she has a baptismal date and I hope to be going to Kasukabe when it happens. I love and miss my area sooo much. I was talking to Sister Miyaki this past week and she said that when I left, all the sisters the next transfer agreed that sometime soon I would come back. I hope so. Nomura san is a referral from an excommunicated person. It is the excommunicated persons mom. Kind of strange, but...we go with it. She is so sweet. She is progressing little by little. She lives close to our apartment, she we can just drop things in her post every once in a while and she loves it. She needs to feel love. Don't we all? Nakahigashi fuufu wants to return to church. We are currently working hard with the members to make this happen by next month. Ryuuya kun had his interview for baptism on Sunday and everything is looking good for Sunday 29. He is doing so well and the change has been unbelievable. Thank you all so much for the prayers in his behalf. I know they are working. The whole Kawamura family struggles. Lots of inactivity and such. He Grandma brought Rakuto kun to church for the first time since we've been here and it was so good to see him. He is the most adorable boy you will ever met though he sure does have a little bit to much energy. He gave me a hug when he saw me at church and I about melted. Cute! Ryuuya kun gives me hugs too. Love it!Okada Rika san also came to church yesterday. She is one of our less active members niece. She is so sweet and is going through so many hard times right now. She just needed to remember who she was. I cried as I realized how important we are as daughters of god. We overlook it all too often. She is listening to the lessons. Love her sooooooooo much. And I love you all so much too! Have an incredible week! Love, 山内姉妹
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