Minasan, osoi ni narimasu!! (That's the new one I learned recently)
How are you guys doing? Good to see that the pig flu hasn't been deemed any more than just a strong flu. It kills every year but no one seems to be making a big deal out of it, I don't get it.... oh well, but it sounds like it came over to Japan pretty recently and there are some people in Kobe and Osaka and there's some fear that it will be getting into our mission in places like Okayama and Tottori - but again, it's a strong flu, as long as I'm not a slob and wash my hands I should be ok. I was just reading recently in Mormon chapters 7.8.9 and it talks about the time of the coming of the Book of Mormon, and it describes exactly the same things that we're experiencing right now. It truly is amazing to have prophets who wrote for US! Well I'll go into that a little bit later.
Our baptismal candidates are still a no show. We've tried calling them from different phones, gone over there, everything! They only call if they need to park here at the Church, it's ridiculous. I'm pretty sure that the 23rd is not going to happen, but we hope to be able to work with them - if we can ever get a hold of them again. But as always, where one door closes, a massive gate gapes open and the blessings of Heaven rush out like Niagara. This last week we had 2 lessons with Mario and Sueli, a couple that was brought to Church about a month and a half ago by a recent-convert Brazilian family. We talked to them every once in a while and got to know them a little better and this last week they became investigators. They said they read the assigned parts of the Book of Mormon and that they'll read the next assignment. The wife however (who seemed to be the better one of the two) has proved to be a little bit more difficult, as she is currently involved in a lot of activities for her current religion: the infamous "Assembleia de Deus". For those that know I can tell you're smiling. Not because I'm making fun of their religion, they have a lot of good people, but they do have a tendency to do these big, overt performances of faith and such. It's quite interesting, but I digress....Anyway, so Mario ended up coming to a little soccer game we made for some investigators and missionaries, and the threat of rain didn't stop the Brazilians from coming. Au contraire, it motivated us to play because it wouldn't be as hot! It was fun and he brought his friend Fernando Norishi (another way cool Christian). Everyone had a good time, however the day after - and even today - are still filled with pain- filled moments of delightful recollection. i.e. my body hurts so bad right now!! Mario has come along from first being an atheist to now wanting to talk more and more about our beliefs. It's funny to watch him during lessons: while his wife is talking he doesn't even care, but as we speak and expound the Restored Gospel, he focuses like no other; it's so awesome!! And this last Sunday, we had our recent-convert family testify of the Restoration and the blessings of faith it brings.
It really touched when they said: "One of the blessings of the Restoration is the strengthening of faith. There are so many religions, and this brings doubt. Doubt diminishes faith, and so having a certainty of the fulness of the Gospel on the Earth now strengthens replaces that doubt with faith." It was beautiful - they've only been baptized for 10 months!
Then our other progressing investigator, Funai-san (yes, he's Japanese, crazy huh?), came not only to play soccer, but to Church again. And this time around he really liked it. It was such a blessing! It's too bad that my translation burdens... aham, I mean priviledges, kept me from talking with him much, but my companion is amazing and he took care of it all, I'm really thankful for him.
We're seeing miracles here, and I love this place. Recently we had an amazing Zone Conference, and our Zone Leaders did a very interesting Instructions. They talked about the qualities of that most-sought-after "Golden Investigators". The number one was "dilligence". Dilligence in keeping commitments and doing what the missionaries ask them to do. To do the will of the Lord and come unto HIm with broken hearts and contrite Spirits. Then he related it to us as missionaries. If we really want to help those people, shouldn't we be leading by example? In Preach My Gospel it states that we can't convert others beyond our own conversion. And it's true.
The next thing (which really touched me, actually) is that we need to become kinjin (golden) missionaries. It's true. If you look at it from an eternal perspective, we are all investigators of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We come unto him with broken hearts as we repent daily, and witness the renewal of our convenants every week at Sacrament Meeting. So what makes us golden missionaries (or investigators)? Dilligence! Dilligence to do what the prophets and the Holy Ghost tell us to do each day in order to come closer to our Heavenly Father. Part of that dilligence is the way we study and apply the Gospel in our lives. We need to deeply study and then live it. That's how we show Father in Heaven that we're repenting and we want the blessings of the Atonement in our lives.
As for us, missionaries, part of that guide is Preach My Gospel. It gives us a promise that if we follow it, we'll be more successfull missionaries. Since then, I've been studying it more deeply and seeking to understand what the Lord would have me do. And it's been amazing.
So I would like to challenge all of you to also become Golden Members! (And if there are any non-members reading this, Golden Investigators!). If you start sutdying the scriptures more in depth, prayerfully, taking notes, pondering about it, you will become more enlightened. And as you apply the principles you learn in your daily lives, you will come to know more deeply the blessings of the Atonement, and strenghten your relationship with Heavenly Father. Which, in turn, will strengthen your testimony, which will support you through your trials and difficulties "through the joy of His son" (Alma 33:23). I know this is true, and this is His work. I know Jesus Christ lives and is our Savior. I know as you take these steps to come closer to Him, you will feel His love more profoundly in your life, and give you strength. I promise you this in His name, even Jesus the Christ, amen.
Love,
Elder Victor Mourao
Elder Victor M. S. Mourao
Japan Hiroshima Mission
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Called to serve the Lord as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hiroshima, Japan
Map of Japan (for a complete map of where he's been, look at the bottom of this page)
Elder Victor M.S. Mourao
Called to serve the Lord as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hiroshima, Japan
Hiroshima, Japan
Map of Japan (for a complete map of where he's been, look at the bottom of this page)
Our Elder's address:
Elder Victor Mourao
Japan Hiroshima Mission
Tottori-ken Yonago-shi
Nishifukubara 3-6-27
Mezon Pineru 201
683-0805
JAPAN
Japan Hiroshima Mission
Tottori-ken Yonago-shi
Nishifukubara 3-6-27
Mezon Pineru 201
683-0805
JAPAN
You can write him an email at
Victor's time
Hiroshima |
Elder Mourao's favorite scripture: Alma 32:42
"And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst."
Thanks for reading Victor's blog!
Mission pictures
Where Victor's been!
Dramatic Growth
"Under the inspiration of the Lord and the courageous action of Joseph Smith, the first Latter-day Saint missionaries ever to serve beyond North America brought the restored gospel to the British Isles in 1837. Heading that first group of elders was Heber C. Kimball, who set a great example for all newly called missionaries. Humbled by the responsibility and fully aware of his limitations, he poured out his heart in prayer."
'O, Lord,' he cried, 'I am a man of stammering tongue, and altogether unfit for such a work; how can I go to preach in that land, which is so famed throughout Christendom for learning, knowledge and piety; the nursery of religion; and to a people whose intelligence is proverbial!'
"But rising from his knees and accepting his duty, he said, 'The moment I understood the will of my Heavenly Father, I felt a determination to go at all hazards, believing that He would support me by His almighty power, and endow me with every qualification that I needed' (Life of Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1945, p. 104). Surely God responded to the faith of that young elder, because Brother Kimball and his companions were endowed, 'with every qualification' they needed."
-Jeffrey R. Holland
'O, Lord,' he cried, 'I am a man of stammering tongue, and altogether unfit for such a work; how can I go to preach in that land, which is so famed throughout Christendom for learning, knowledge and piety; the nursery of religion; and to a people whose intelligence is proverbial!'
"But rising from his knees and accepting his duty, he said, 'The moment I understood the will of my Heavenly Father, I felt a determination to go at all hazards, believing that He would support me by His almighty power, and endow me with every qualification that I needed' (Life of Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1945, p. 104). Surely God responded to the faith of that young elder, because Brother Kimball and his companions were endowed, 'with every qualification' they needed."
-Jeffrey R. Holland