Hello everyone! How are you all?! Good news to report: no earthquakes here in the area - actually I haven't felt a single earthquake the whole entire time I've been in japan, so that's pretty surprising rto me. The only thing to complain about is this awful heat. It's like being in a sauna whenever you step out of an air-conditioned room. You sweat immediately by just being there. It's bad, but it's part of the experience - I'm loving it! haha It's great to be a missionary. And because I'm so different, it's easier to talk to people. It's something called "gaijin-power" - if you're ever in Japan, learn to harness it: it's got everlasting consequences (like teaching the Gospel).
Anyways, so this week was just one of the most incredible weeks of my mission. We decided some time ago that biking 45 minutes out to meet with people who don't necessarily intend on progressing is not an effective way to work (however much we love them and desire their happiness), so we figured that there are prepared people out here - closer to us and the Church, that we could bring the Gospel to.
Last week I worked with one of the brand new missionaries and we found a potential investigator named Haku-san (she's actcually Chinese, but that's her name's reading in japanese "white"). She told us to come back because her kids were about to jump in the shower. SO me and my companion went and visited her the next day. She was just about to leave so we talked a little bit, and she told us that she'd talk to her husband and give us a call. And maybe we could meet them on that next SUnday. Well, she called and canceled that Saturday before. But she said: "I really want to know more about God and Jesus Christ. Will you come to my house and teach me next Saturday?" .... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I couldn't even put into words, how happy I was. But that's nothing. So we took one of the new recent-convert Chinese members from the ward to do a joint lesson, 2 days ago. It was the most powerful lesson I've been in my mission - I maybe said 10 sentences. Sister Alicia powerfully testified about God and prayer. Even though neither me or my companion could understand Chinese, the Spirit was so powerful! At the end, Haku-san prayed, and the room was just filled with this Heavenly power and all of us began to cry. She said (in Chinese) "it was amazing!"
She told our member that she had never felt something like that, and that she wants to continue to learn about God, and become closer to the Savior. Well, we gave her a book of mormon and we're going back to teach her next week. Her husband is really busy with work (he is Chinese, but works terrible Japanese hours), but we're hoping to meet him and invite him to the lessons. The members were great and bore powerful testimony.
Then, we also had really interesting experiences all throughout this week. We found some amazing PIs - it was all God, we had nothing to do with it (besides the fact of going out and working). We met a guy and his family, named "Jeff." We housed into him, and found out he's from Wisconsin, came to Japan years ago, married, kids, and just lives about 10 minutes away from us. He was a great guy! Heavenly Father really guided us to Him (i mean, there is no way I could have just gone "let's go to this place, maybe there's an American living on the top floor!") ;-)
We went out to the "torounagashi" this past thursday - this day marked the 64 anniversary of the day the Atomic Bomb fell in Hiroshima. It was full of people, and I think it kind of distracted from the solemnity of the occasion - kinda like a huge hippie fest. We met some interesting people, some of them being people from something called the "Raelian Movement" (look it up, I won't say anything). I got a free hug.
I'm glad to know that everyone's doing good and alive! I hope all is well. I know that our Father in Heaven will continue to pour out HIs Spirit and blessings on us as we continue to live righteous lives, and try each and every day to come closer to Him by following the example of His Son Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful for the Atonement and the opportunity and privilege that's been give to me to be here and tell others about its blessings. I love this place, and I love what I do. The Atonement and this Gospel truly does bless people and families, and changes hearts. Thank you for your continuing love and support; I love you all and pray for the Lord's blessings to be upon each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Love,
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