Mission Complete

Going home

Zone Conference Facebook post by President Deshler

 we had the Kiryu/Koriyama Zone Conference last week. We had a uncoventional transfer and it took many weeks to get all the Zone Conferences done--but this was worth the wait. Our young leaders did a great job planning really effective teachings with LOTS of awesome role plays!! We also had the departing testimonies for three amazing young missionaries. What powerful disciples sharing their knowledge of Jesus Christ and His role. #ChristIsTheReason

Control.... Alt..... Delete

 Hey everyone! Hope all is well. This week was a blast and we found so much success and joy in the work. 

I'll just focus on a couple cool experiences we had starting on Thursday morning after the Maebashi Elders left back for their area after exchanges. We had a planned lesson with Regina at 10 and she and a member came and she brought a friend as well. It was super good and they are progressing very fast and love The Book of Mormon and Jesus and both have potential for baptism moving forward. 

On Friday we went to Shirakawa and just knocked until my legs about fell off. However we were able to give some good advice and hopefully help those Elders there a bit with the work moving forward. One of the Elders there is also a state champion Pokémon player and so we had some crazy games, it was sweet. 

On Saturday, we had a lesson with Sefeek and he is progressing super well and then that night we got to meet Kagaris dad and brothers and go play some basketball with a bunch of people. I was by far the worst person there yet taller than most of them. It was a humbling experience.  My companion on the other side had people trying to recruit him to their teams haha.

Sunday rolls around and 8 people came to church! It was so awesome. We had a big lesson with them all about faith and read Alma 32 together. After, we went to the Sakurais with a couple of them for a meal and that was super awesome and special seeing all those people take the sacrament and say how much peace they felt there. And even more people plan to come next week.

Yesterday, we had a lesson with Carlos and he opened up a lot about his life and it was really good. He should be going to church next week in Oizumi which will really help him.

Today we have the Iwaki Elders with us in Kiryu and they will stay until Zone Conference which is this week on Thursday and then we just got straight plans from there. A ward BBQ, lessons and lots of things. We will be completely packed and busy which will be good!

If you can't tell by the title, this will be my last email I will send on the mission. I'll head to Tokyo, spend a couple nights in a big hotel there and then head home next week. I don't feel like it's ending at all so I have a hard time writing anything about it but thank you for reading my emails and staying with me across this whole journey over the past 2 years. I've changed completely, learned and witnessed so much, and am forever grateful for everything that has happened. No amount of money could ever replace it. I know the book of Mormon is the word of God and this church was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know God answers prayers and loves to see effort. I know Jesus Christ lives, he heals us, and is our savior. I know this because I feel his love for me every day.

Thank you

帰りたくない帰りたくない - Elder Parker

                                               (パーカー長老)