Mission Release letter and Certificate

Okamura Kyodai's Baptism

Yesterday marked my 2 full years as a full-time missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Of course, I've still got a few days left to bear my special testimony, travel, and meet some old friends. But, 2 years. I can't believe it's already been 2 years.

This week we saw so many miracles and had countless bitter-sweet farewells. Dang it, I wish I could send you all of the pictures I took, but in preparation to return my iPad, I had to save them all on my flash drive, and delete them. But don't worry, I got the most important one from Elder Ulrich to send at the end of this email.

Saying goodbye to President Nakagawa, Brother Kumagai, and Brother Tsuchida was heart wrenching. I've worked so closely with these amazing men over the last several months that I feel like a member of a special brotherhood. Saying goodbye to Sister Nakagawa and their kids was also so hard, but so special. They said so many nice things about me, and when I told Sister Nakagawa that she's been my Japanese mother while I've been in Sanjo (partly because she reminds me so much of you! You're going to love her when you finally meet! :)  She got a little emotional and said, "Elder Stout, you will always be my son!" Through the window we saw tons of rain just dumping down because of the typhoon, and looking out at it, she also remarked, "It's like Sanjo is crying to see you leave."

We got to visit Maeda Kyoudai one final time with Brother and Sister Umeda. It was such a sweet meeting as Sister Maeda also joined us with several cups of hot chocolate (despite the summer heat, but it was way good ;) I had a chance to bear my Testimony to them and they were both silent for a moment, and then said, "Thank you so much. Will you say the final prayer for us?" I prayed that they would be protected by the Lord as they strived to follow his will. The next day at church, I was waiting for Bu to come sit next to me after he passed the sacrament, when suddenly Elder Ulrich (playing the piano) got a wide-eyed look on his face, looking behind me. I whipped around to see... Brother and Sister Maeda had dressed up in their best Sunday clothes. After I bore my Testimony about hope, brother Maeda shook my hand and said, "You're a good boy. That was a wonderful testimony, thank you." It was such a special moment. He also said he's waiting for us and Grandma and Grandpa to come; they're really looking forward to it! :D

Miracle #1

Have I ever mentioned Mori Kyoudai? It's a long story. Most missionaries stop knocking on a door if nobody answers after a while, but he lives not 2 minutes from our apartment, and I've felt inspired to keep knocking his door and writing him notes as if we're already friends on a weekly basis for the last 8 months. I've done it almost every week I've been here, and he's ignored me every single time, even though I can hear him in there. But I felt like I should do it. Normally you don't want to bother people, you know? I've never done it with another less active member. But I felt the spirit tell me to do it. Like I said, I've never seen or had a conversation with this man.

The last time, this last Friday, I wrote him and said, "I really want to meet you! Here's my name and my email address. Write me even though I'm going to America soon. In all of these 8 months, I really wanted to meet you Brother Mori! I don't know you, but I love you!"

And then, an hour and a half later, I got this message on Facebook.

Miracle #2

All week, we were praying with all of our might for Asako and for Okamura to get baptized. Asako was looking really good, but Okamura randomly called us on Monday and said, "I can't meet at all until at the earliest Friday. Sorry." So, basically there was no time to teach him what we needed to for him to get baptized on Saturday. We were really bummed, but we kept praying for both of them! Asako committed to talk to her mom on Wednesday. She wasn't able to, so committed again Thursday, and Friday, but on Saturday morning she said that she just couldn't bring herself to. The ENTIRE district was praying for these two people and we felt strongly that they could be baptized. On Friday night, we waited for Okamura to come to Ping Pong night, but there was no sign of him. Suddenly we got a call, "Sorry, I can't make it tonight." I was pretty broken up. I felt so strongly that they could make it, that I had informed the Sanjo and Niigata wards to be prepared for a baptism, and asked all of the missionaries to pray in every prayer for these two.

Oops.

But first the trial of our faith, and THEN the miracle, right?

Okamura asked, on that call, "I can't come tonight, but, we're meeting tomorrow right?"

"Um, well, about that...."

"For my baptism, right? I want to be baptized tomorrow."

Well, we had the church, we had the members, we had the elders who said they'd fill the font....... All we need now is the baptismal interview. But.... why not?

"Ok, we need to meet tomorrow morning."

We met him in the morning, we practiced the interview in the car-ride up with Brother Kumagai, we met President Nakagawa and his wife and several other ward members, and Okamura Kyoudai walked into his interview at 2:30. And he passed. At 3:00, the service began.

It was an amazing day filled with miracles and the spirit. As we stepped out of the font, I asked, "How do you feel?" And he was speechless, "I feel so clean. I feel so warm." While he bore his testimony at the pulpit to the small number of gathered saints, I had the spirit confirm to me: The Lord opened the way for him and her to be baptized. But he will not take away their agency.

Against all odds, the fervent prayers of one small district of missionaries in Niigata Japan one crazy weekend were heard, and resulted in a miracle. Of course, Asako Shimai was not baptized, and that was sad. But Okamura kyoudai, who put forth all the faith he possessed, was able to overcome every obstacle. I know that the Lord gives that power to each of us. Perhaps some of our obstacles are obstacles of time and they take longer, but every obstacle is conquerable if you have the Lord on your side.

This is the church of Jesus Christ! He is at the head, and he guides his followers every step of the way. I know it because I've been guided by him for so long now!

I love this work! And I love being a missionary! I'm grateful that being a missionary is a life-long blessing and that I never have to stop! :D I love sharing this gospel, and to all of my friends and family who read these emails, I hope that you love it to! That's definitely the best way to share the gospel anyway: Simply loving being a part of it.

I LOVE YOU MAMA!!!!! I can't wait to see you and the others too! I hope you're ready to talk a lot! Because I'm ready with a bajillion faith building stories, funny stories, crazy stories, Japanese stories, stories about Elder T. Stout who nobody else has seen for some time ;) and everything else in between!! I love you だよ〜！！

    Elder Stout :D

          🇺🇸  •  🇯🇵

スタウト長老 ^o^

Saying goodbye is not easy, but it's beautiful!

HI! :D This week was great! We're having so many adventures every day! I'm doing way well, never been happier. I can't wait to see you either :) And ooh, the trip to California is gonna be SWEET!! Nothing could be better than hanging out with family!!

HOLY COW!!! SO MANY FAMILY WEDDINGS!!! AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT CARSON'S BABY CAME!?!? WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN!?!?!?! HE'S A FATHER!?!?!?!?!?

Man, this week was crazy. That guy I mentioned, Takashi, resurfaced as an investigator after we ran into him at a festival. Well, we went and hiked a mountain together! And he bought us, "Oden" and Ramune! 

That was way fun!! It was also super effective as we built a strong relationship with him and he told us, "You can call me anytime. And I'll be at church on Sunday!"

Such a beautiful hike. I love mountains, and look forward to hiking with you, too! :)

Do you remember Sandy? (Maybe Mieko? She has a lot of names ;) The lady that Bu introduced us to. She's been progressing so fast towards baptism with her daughters. 

This week, we finally went to the beach for a BBQ like she's been trying to get us to do for the last 3 months  It was so much fun, and such a good experience for us and for Bu! :D Also, they are super rich and bought SO MUCH MEAT. It was one of the funnest dendo activities ever. They're gonna start working with her son in Niigata, who is awesome, so that was a way good step!

Miracle when we jumped out of the car, ran, and made our train less then 10 seconds before it left. He passed the Sacrament and it was so awesome!!! He also said the closing prayer this week and everyone congratulated him so much! 

As for our investigators, Okamura san is doing really well and has been hoping to get baptized this week. It's a little iffy because he had to leave church early this week and we weren't able to talk about some stuff that we needed to. Please pray for him!

Other than him, crazy story. This sisters got taken out of Sanjo randomly :( So we've taken over teaching Asako, which has actually been way good! She came to the aquarium too, and I talked with him during it. She's really opened up to me because I've known her for so long, and I learned some stuff about her family situation that other missionaries have never figured out. So, here's the thing. She has a really good chance of getting baptized this week on the first (her and Okamura's date,) and she even agreed to free her schedule at 3 o'clock so that she can make it. But she's in a way tough situation. i just need you to pray way hard for her and her family so that it can happen. Particularly, that her family will not reject her if she gets baptized. 

Mission school was amazing this week and last! It's really getting bigger. One day when we have 100 students, I'll say, "I was there when the first student came!" ;)

On the topic of the mission school, the people who hold it together are the Nakagawa's. In the last 8 months they have become my favorite family in the world. Honestly, they've just taken me right in and make me feel like a member of the family! They asked us to come over for one more dinner yesterday, and it was one of the funnest nights of my life! They understand my sense of humor, so all of us just laughed the entire time! It was such a blast. Sister Nakagawa basically my Japanese mom (I have like, 4 of those though ;) For one, if you were Japanese, then you would probably be Sister Nakagawa. You'll be best friends when you meet. She always compliments my ties at church and is super nice and worries about us and how the work is, and when I was sick she made us chicken noodle soup! She, and her children, also invite lots of people to come to church and mission school and are the reason why we have some new students! (Including a random person she gave a flyer to at the grocery store!) Anyway, her and everyone else were really excited that I said we were coming back and told me that you dad and grandma and grandpa and I HAVE to go back to their house! So plan on it :D Yuusuke is like my little bro, we've gotten so tight, and Miharu and Chiho are like my lil' sisters. Tatsuhiro and Rukia are also just my buddies, we're always playing together.

Miharu also loves to draw and so she drew a picture of me and they wrote a note on it! It was the best!!

I've been saying goodbye to everyone. Today I said goodbye to all of my fellow Niigata Zone missionaries :'( But we had an absolute blast at an aquarium... dang it, I love aquariums more than life itself. That was the funnest P-Day ever. It felt a lot like Sea World, just in Japan.... I love living life in Japanese!!

Ooh, thanks for the spiritually uplifting thought :) We say, "Saigo made taeshinobu" in Japanese, which means, "Endure to the end." But it kinda has a rough, almost "bite the bullet" connotation to it, so lots of good missionaries (including my trainer, Elder Hibino,) would switch it to, "Saigo made tanoshimu." Or, "Enjoy to the end." And that's exactly how it is! If the gospel is not working for us, we need to evaluate ourselves. Because the gospel IS joy. When we think about commandments, we must remember we're not here to be imprisoned by a strict regimen of restricting, back-breaking rules for a lifetime. God didn't send us to an Alcatraz! He sent us to one of his most masterfully crafted beautiful creations! We're supposed to learn how to follow his plans to find true joy. It's all about being happy.

I love you mama! :D I hope you're happy! I'm happy. I'll be way happy to see you too, soon.

These last few days in an area are the worst, but the best. I secretly love goodbyes, because it's through goodbyes that you realize how much you mean to another person. It sounds kinda sad, but I feel so much love from and for the people around me as we say our final words  Saying goodbye is not easy, but it's beautiful. I'll make the most of the rest of this time God has given me and enjoy it to its fullest. And I know I'll see all of them again, soon enough.

But you know what's even better than goodbyes? Being reunited. 

One more P-Day to go, talk to you next week!

With love,

    Elder Stout :D

          🇺🇸  •  🇯🇵

スタウト長老 ^o^

  

I'm savoring every minute of it right now!

でも本当だ！光陰矢の如し！Time is flying so fast. Every time somebody asks me how long I've been a missionary and I tell them, "About two years." It never fails to leave me a little bit shocked.

On the topic of the people I've grown to love here in Japan, whom I would go so far as to call family, yesterday in Deacons I told Yusuke that in order to not only keep up my Japanese up after I go back to the states, but to improve it, I'm gonna ask a couple of the best friends I've made on my mission if we can do a skype call for just 20 minutes once every 2 weeks or so, so that I have someone to talk to every day. I also said, "I'll never forget you guys, but this will help!" He just looked so astonished and said、「すごい。もちろん！/sugoi... mochiron!」(Wow... ok!)  then his dad said,「そうなら、絶対忘れないでしょう。/sounara, zettai wasurenai deshou.」(If you do that, you really will never forget about us!) Since then, the rest of the day he kinda followed me around! Haha, it was the best. But honestly, that's exactly right, mom. I miss you tons, but I know I'll miss them too. Japan feels like my second home, the members here like family. President and Sister Nakagawa, their kids, Bu, brother and sister kumagai, brother Tsuchida, EVERYBODY ELSE! I don't wanna leave! I swear I'll come back to Japan a lot. Maybe to live... for a little bit at least... ;)

Dad actually sent the letter to me, haha, and it made me feel way good inside :) President Nagano is such a good man.

Yeah, I continue to have the best experiences of my life each and every day in Sanjo! I feel like so much has happened and yet I'm not sure what to tell you this week. I might keep this week's letter a touch shorter because we went on a hike that took a little bit of email time ;)

All of our investigators are doing well. Top dawgs are Okamura san, Takahashi, brother Hoshino, and......... *drum role*.......... Asako.

Okamura: He's doing way well! Was able to meet on Saturday, we had a great lesson about tithing. When we bore our testimonies and then asked, "What do you think?" He replied almost casually, "その通りですね。sono toori desu ne" (I think that's exactly right.) It was wonderful. Talked again about his baptism (which was planned for that day... oops.) and he recommited to meet more because he wants to get baptized as soon as possible. He said, "Whenever you have time, let's do it." Haha, we explained that he needs a little more preperation, but brother kumagai said, "Get him to come over to my house for dinner!" So we've got lots of ward support. He should be baptized by July 1st, I'm confident.

Takashi: A name that's been in our area book record the whole time I've been here, yet has been impossible to meet. He randomly came to church, and then by some miracle we ran into each other again the other day and he's been texting us ever since! He knew elder Ulrich last time he was in Sanjo! SUGOI NE! He's awesome, we're just starting to meet with him. Pray for him please!

Hoshino Kyoudai: Slowly but surely making progress.

Asako Shimai: On sunday the sisters were sick and so we taught her, and it was way way good. She's been talking about getting baptized on the 1st as well for several weeks now (specifically before I leave), and still has the struggles with her mom. I sat down and said, "Asako, I've met with you here in Sanjo longer than any other missionary. And we've become good friends, right? Well, I don't want to talk as a missionary to an investigator. I want to talk as a friend to a friend. Do you even want to get baptized? I'm not even gonna tell you to, I just want to hear your honest feelings, and your honest roadblocks." And she opened up a lot. Suffice it to say, there's a...64% (roughly) chance that she will be baptized before I leave. Please pray for her.

 Awww, Hudson is so darn cute! 笑笑 So are the girlies!!!! I've missed them so bad you don't even know! I've had a picture Lylah drew 2 years ago hanging up on my desk my whole mission! I'm so glad life is good for everyone :)

I'm savoring every minute of it right now. I love life. I've never been happier in my life!

I loved that talk that you quoted in your letter! President Nelson has become one of my favorite apostles since I was in the MTC. Haha, I actually have a lot of those now... But his talks always feel so applicable to right now, and a focus on the little things that make the biggest impact. I've learned that two of the most important attributes we can build, perhaps, are hope and patience. Hope that the future is bright and that God is in control. That hope, takes away fear completely! And then patience for that day in which you're hoping for. Most blessings in life take lots of time.

A scripture that I really love is Alma 4:15: "And now it came to pass that Alma, having seen the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecution which were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all their inequality, began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless the spirit of the Lord did not fail him.

Just like President Nelson said! We just have to reach up to get the help, because the spirit of the Lord won't fail us, even in parlous times! I've seen terrible affliction and hardships as a missionary that probably would have scarred me for life as a kid. But while we mourn with those who mourn, and even when we're saddened by the world around us, we'll also find that the Lord is mourning with and supporting us and that he will never fail us. That's where the hope comes from. Hope in a brighter future makes the brighter future a possibility. And then a reality.

I wish that all young missionaries understood that just having hope in Christ will help them get through anything on a mission and lead them to see miracles!

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!! And I miss you lots. :) Take care and stay genki!!

Yours truly,

    Elder Stout :D

          🇺🇸  •  🇯🇵

スタウト長老 ^o^

The Lord's promises are absolute!

あいしてますよ！元気元気。先週も頑張ったよ！今週もがんばります！！

This week in Sanjo was crazy! I don't even know where to begin.

There's a lot of personal stuff going on with Toshiki and Yui that I can't talk about over email. What I can say is that yesterday was the most intense day of my life. Yui came out of the hospital and was at church, which was the best thing ever! I had never seen her happier in my life then she was that morning. She couldn't stop bragging about her baby, and it was so cute. However, some things happened, and she had a breathing attack and passed out in the church, and when she came to, the sisters told her about priesthood blessings. She said she'd like one. What ensued was too sacred to write here. She is progressing wonderfully, but Toshiki is backtracking dramatically, and the situation has become very severe. If we could have them in your prayers this week, it would be very much appreciated.

The baby is doing well. :)

Through the experiences of yesterday, President Nakagawa has gone from being one of my mission heroes, to probably the person who has influenced me most on my mission.

Mark's avoiding us. Also a long story. I'll tell you more about that when I can.

However, his mom has a TON of interest, and is just waiting for us to be able to come over with a male present! We are on the verge of just sending the sisters, because she is so 金人！！(kinjin, or golden)

Okamura San is also kin! Came to church, but wasn't really able to meet this week. He's way busy. We're going to have to push his date back, but hopefully not too much. He's had to cancel on us like 3 times this week, but hopefully we can find time :P

Hoshino san is doing well! He doesn't think he understands anything, but he actually understands a ton. So, we're working with that!

We've had a lot of fun experiences just chatting with everyone we meet on trains and in shops and such. Gotten quite a few phone numbers from interested guys, and so hopefully things'all start to happen with them! :)  

Super cool story of the week!! So, mission school is all year round :) Also Japanese schooling is pretty different from American. They don't have a big long summer break, they only have 4 small breaks, one each season. Right now, they're finishing their first term (which starts in like, April?) and are just starting second term of the 4 term system. So, plenty of people to teach English to :) THE BEST NEWS THOUGH, is that last week Yusuke (brother Nakagawa's 13-year-old son, and my super good buddy,) told me, "I tried inviting a friend, and he didn't want to come at all..." so I just told him, "Don't give up!"

Then he calls me Thursday afternoon, "Hey Elder Stout. So, I invited my friends again. And 3 of them are coming. So like... just know, they probably aren't planning on getting baptized, but..."

"Yusuke. We got you. What do you and your bros like? Chocolate? Chips? Soda?"

"Eh? Really???"

"Of course. We're gonna make it the best English class ever!!"

And we did. And they said they'll come back next week. MIRACLES!!!!

Went to visit Maeda Kyoudai with the stake president and his wife (she was bapitzed when he was a branch president.) It went FANTASTIC. He was so happy and genki and we talked about the church and the old branch so much!!

Splits with Kashiwa choro were way fun! He bought me a super fancy kind of sushi which was amazing. Someday I'm gonna have to take you to sushi and show you all of my favorites. You'll die.

Toshiki and Elder Ulrich.

Niigata Zone Conference.

You know what I love? Testifying. I'm so grateful that I've had so many amazing experiences and seen so many miracles that I can testify confidently about. I remember when I first came on my mission I thought, "I got my answer to the Book of Mormon, and that's fine and all, but like. . . I don't want to promise anyone else they can do it, cuz what if they don't?"

But now I understand. Now I know that the Lord's promises are absolute. If somebody follows every commitment we give them with sincerity in their heart, then they WILL receive every blessing we promise in the Lord's name. I'm not afraid anymore. I've learned it because I've seen it time and time again. I've seen people's lives completely change as they follow the holy ghost and obey God's commandments, and I've seen people's lives fall to pieces as they've thrown out their beliefs and done what they want. I know that God watches out for us, I've felt him talk to me through the Holy Ghost on a daily basis for so long now that to question it is like questioning whether or not my best friends Sam or Todd are real!

I can't wait to share my testimony and my experiences with everyone I meet and to strengthen the Lord's Zion for the duration of my life!

I love you so much Mama, I hope you're doing well! I can't wait to hug you, too! And to speak for hours and hours about Japan and your mission and the gospel and everything else, and to do service projects around the house, and to speak Japanese together, and do lots of other fun family activities! I'll see you way soon. Time is moving way fast, if you blink you might miss my homecoming. However, I loved the advice from your mission president. Keep making the most of right now! But I'll see you soon! :) Take care!! :)

    Elder Stout :D

          🇺🇸  •  🇯🇵

スタウト長老 ^o^

Life is Good!

It happened.

Introducing Masato Kun. He's so cute!!!

I got to talk to Yui on the phone, she sounded exhausted, but said, "I'm so so happy." (I always ask her, "Genki desu ka?" (Are you doing well?) And she always responds, without fail, "Genki jyanai." (No.)

But she said, "Genki desu yo"!! (I'm doing very well!) I think Masato is going to change a lot of things for that family. But as for now, that's about all in regards to Toshiki's progress in the gospel. He's doing well, though. Earlier this week he came with us to visit an older member, and then we went out to eat and then played golf together today, it was way fun! 

Life is good.

This Sunday our congregation had lots of people, including less actives and members. It was so wonderful!! Like I said in my email last week, and you mentioned in your email, I've gotten so attached to this work and this country, and especially this ward. We're seeing a lot of miracles here! We started a morning prayer a couple weeks ago, where the whole branch prays in the morning at 7 o'clock to both have missionary opportunities and for our investigators to progress. We're seeing so much growth. I never had any idea what being a member of the church outside of Utah was like until recently, I don't think. Because I've been here so long I feel like just another member. I can't believe how blessed I was to be born where I was. Utah is basically heaven on earth (it sounds funny, but it's true) but the dendo fire in our ward right now is inspiring. It's really something special to be a part of.

In short, we're doing way well! :) Elder Ulrich is great! We've known each other a long time, and so it's been pretty easy to get to work.

He's also way nice and funny. He's super pro at sports, especially golf and basketball, and is like, WAY ripped. He works out way hard. We also go running every morning which is the best thing ever. :Dhe was a student body president and a super star player at his high school, and he's a way good leader too! He makes me want to understand sports better. I'm always humiliated to tell people how little I know about football and stuff. Papa, I'm ready for you to teach me a lot.  I've had too many companions judge me  (Not actually judge, they all just laugh and say, "You don't know what a line backer does?!")

He's way dedicated and consecrated to the Lord's work and is just a great example of someone who is ready to work. Every chance we get to do a random act of good or stop someone somewhere, he jumps on it. He also has a way powerful way of simply testifying about any gospel principle and inviting the spirit. I'm lucky to be his companion! :)

Our investigators are right on the cusp (to quote Trevor)! Okamura san said that he wants to be baptized this month. We asked him at the end of our lesson on 3 Nephi 11, "Do you believe these things to be true?" And he responded, "of course! How long do I have to wait to get baptized?" We explained that he needs to learn of some commandments and that if he commits to follow God then he can. Please pray that he will be able to meet tomorrow and learn the rest of the commandments this week. 

Brother Hoshino is also doing waaaay good. He said this last week he couldn't come to church, but this week he'll try. He's already got faith, we're just trying to help him polish it.

Asako just finished Helaman!! Pray that she'll just follow the spirit and get baptized! She's just nervously waiting.

Yes!! We haven't had a chance to meet since, but the other day we stopped by and Mark's mom asked us, "Can you teach me bible lessons?" So we have plans to meet up and teach her a lesson soon! :D

Thanks for the words from your mission president, it actually meant a lot. I don't think you've ever told me about your last interview before. I can definitely really relate with it right now. I'm looking forward to the next stage of life, too, then. I'll always try to enjoy the rest of this one to its fullest! :) I also loved all of the pics of the girls and Hudson! Hahaha, I can't wait to see them :) :)

Thanks for your sweet email, it's so good to hear from you :) I miss you, and I love you so much!!!

Love,

    Elder Stout :D

          🇺🇸  •  🇯🇵

スタウト長老 ^o^