December 25, 2016

Merry Christmas from Japan! The land where Christmas means eating Kentucky fried chicken (which is actually expensive here) and Christmas cake. 

The special sacrament meetings yesterday were incredible and there were many special people that came. There's nothing better than having Christmas on Sunday. Getting to go to church and learn more of our saviors life and example, feel the love of these incredible members, and talk with some people who aren't members was very special. 

I feel like we got to experience so many different things yesterday on Christmas. 

The spirit was so strong in both sacrament meetings. We had been working so hard the past little while to get people to come to the Christmas Day church service but none of the people ended up coming. As we sat there listening to the talks I felt a profound comfort that the Lord had accepted our efforts, and though we didn't see the results we had expected, that the Lord was aware of all we had done. He was helping us the entire time, and I know He will continue to help and guide us in His work. 

On Christmas Eve we had a prompting to go and visit a less active who lives up the street. We brought a little treat and she was excited to see us. We shared the new Christmas video and she was very touched by it. We asked if before we left if we could pray. She said she hadn't prayed in 30 years, but that one of us could pray. I got to offer the prayer and the spirit was present. We felt such a warm comfort and I know the sister felt it to. We got to remind her that she is loved by God, no matter where she is or how long she's been away from church. We were so blessed to be able to experience that tender Christmas Eve moment with her. 

We had dinner with an incredible family with seven adorable kids. It was so nostalgic being surrounded by a ton of kids that were all my nieces and nephews ages! See included pictures for proof of how cute their kids are. 

We finished dinner and got home and were able to dendo for a little longer before going home. As we knocked and got rejected, I felt more gratitude, empathy, and love for Mary and Joseph as they searched for a place to stay a little over two millennia ago. Mary carried with her the light, life, and hope of the world, yet no one accepted them in. It was very humbling to experience a small small fraction of what they experienced.  I'm thankful for each one of the little experiences and miracles that our Heavenly Father blessed us with yesterday. They are events that I will cherish and ponder on for a long time to come. 

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. He atoned for the sins of the world. He was crucified, and was resurrected. "His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world." 

Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us perfectly. As we follow them, we will find peace and we will find happiness. 

We Caroled at a shopping mall and honestly sounded terrible, but some people still stopped to talk with us. 

A sweet friend we made on a bus ride that came and spent a little of Christmas Eve with us. 

The callihans! Look at that poor cat 

Japanese Christmas meal