Hey everyone! Okay, first things first, so there was a pretty sweet typhoon here in Tokyo, but I am completely fine, it actually didn't hit Saitama very hard, and by the time we finished study, the sky is starting to be blue, and I can actually see Mt. Fuji from my apartment! Haha, how sweet is that? :) But this was such an awesome week, and I'm so stoked to talk about some of the cool miracles we saw this week! Just want to say I love you guys so much, and I'm so thankful for the prayers you always share for me, they truly are felt over here in Tokyo. :)
Well Conference was amazing! We won't be watching the Sunday sessions until this coming Saturday, but the Saturday sessions were amazing! Another awesome treat was all of the Priesthood holders here in the Saitama Stake met up and we watched the Priesthood session live! It was Sunday morning, and it was so awesome to know I was watching it the same time as Dad and Tyler back in the states! I really loved priesthood session, especially Elder Cook's talk about the decisions that determine our destiny, and the paths of our future lives. It really caused me to think so much, and made me feel so grateful for the decision to serve a mission! I can't believe I only have one conference left here in Japan, but it really left me with a strong desire to start making these decisions and changes I've made here in Tokyo last forever, and hold onto every awesome moment. :) I love serving as a missionary so much, and I'm so thankful for all of the amazing miracles Heavenly Father has blessed me with. It's been the most awesome life changing experience, and I'm so excited for these eight months!
This week we were blessed to set a Christmas baptismal date with our great friend Naoto! He's such an awesome guy, and he's actually 19 so the ward is really pumped to help him learn more concerning the gospel, and really feel that confirmation to be baptized by that date! He's become such a great eternal friend, and I'm really thankful for the chance to be sharing this awesome message with him. It was such an awesome miracle, and we're way excited to start working more closely with him! As well our great Chinese friend Chen has really been enjoying prayer, and he's really pumped to learn more concerning the true meaning of Christmas! It's going to be such an awesome time here in
Saitama. :)
As well it sounds like you all are doing so well! It seems like Mom and Dad are always heading to Utah, which will be way cool once I get down to Provo and we can see each other all the time! Just want to say thank you so much for all of your love and support you share with me, I'm so thankful for all of the prayers, and kindness you always share with me. I have the most awesome family ever! It's always so much fun to show the people we teach our family photos and they always say, "they're all models! How old is your mother, she looks so young! Your dad looks like a famous actor! Your brother looks like a Uni-Qlo model! Your sisters are so beautiful!" I patiently anticipate the recognition that I am in the photo, wearing a strapping blazer, perhaps a very handsome knitted tie, but alas, the praise primarily lands upon the heads of the rest of my model-esque family. ;) Just kidding, haha, but it's always such an awesome opportunity to share that this incredible gospel message has brought our family so close together, and explain that the fun loving attitude in our home came from being based on those principles taught in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love being a missionary!
As well during this conference I really loved the talk by Elder Jörg! His straightforward message hit me so strong, and I was really thankful for such a great talk! It definitely led me to some deep reflection, and some much needed repentance at the end of the night. "You better get really really good at repenting!" It was really so funny, but the message rang loud and clear, and I really enjoyed it! My favorite talk so far though has definitely been President Uchtdorf's during the priesthood session. It definitely left me with a strong determination to stay focused on this great work, and never become disengaged, and always stay connected to my purpose as a missionary and child of God. Such an awesome day of conference!
What was so great as well was two of our great investigator friends were able to come and attend, and they had such a great time! Brother Hashimoto was so awesome and fellowshipped our one friend so great, and invited him to come sit with his family, and they had a great time. The Urawa ward members are so awesome, and I feel so blessed to be serving here in such an awesome ward. It has such a different feeling than any ward I've served in so far in my mission, and it's just such an awesome opportunity serving here as a missionary. :) I hope to just keep showing the love for this ward by working hard, and staying always focused on the most important things! I love serving in Tokyo Japan so much, and I'm so excited to keep going forward with faith.
To answer some questions! I think I'm all good on the garments for now, I can purchase them through the temple here in Tokyo, and I think that'll be fine instead of making you guys go through all of that trouble! Thank you though so much for sending those pairs, it's always so awesome receiving new anything! Thanks so much for always being so kind to send so many awesome packages, and sharing that love, it really means so much to me! Other than that, I'm doing really good! There's always those little challenges here and there, but being a missionary for 16 months has taught that when those heavy times come in, there's always a bright miracle right behind it as we continue to do what is right, and hold onto the promises Heavenly Father has told us. We definitely saw that this week, and it was so cool! Friday was such a lame day, I don't really need to go into all the details, but Dad and Tyler know it was just one of those days where it all seems to not go through right. But Elder Shumway and I were committed that the next day would be much better, and we actually met an amazing young family the next day that had so much interest in learning more about the gospel! We're so excited for them, and it just really reaffirmed that testimony that Heavenly Father truly listens to and answers our prayers. I'm so thankful for all of the amazing lessons I've been learning as a missionary, and the changes it is bringing into my life. I'm so thankful for the atonement of Jesus Christ which allows me to learn and grow from my mistakes, and strive to be more of the son Heavenly Father wants me to be. I love this work so much, and I'm so excited to keep going forward with faith and continue to give this work my whole effort! Now more than ever, with these last 8 months, I just want to give the most solid effort, and do all I can to make every day count. I love being a missionary so much, and I'm so thankful to be serving somewhere as amazing as Japan. The Japanese people are so amazing, and they've really stolen my heart in these past months. I love you guys so much, hope you have an amazing week! Life is Good, The Book is True, and God Loves you Through and Through! Have an amazing week!!
Love,
Elder Justesen
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