Week 32 Marugame: Almost Miracle

another gReat week spent as a laborer in the lord's vinEyard!

this week has been quite a crAzy week, full of ups and Downs and all

sorts of things. but something really funnY that happened was when we

went and visited a couple recent cOnverts who have been falling away

and second guessing their commitment they made at baptism. it has

gotten to the point where they are wanting their names removed from

the chUrch. they have been feeling ashamed of some mistakes that they

have made Regarding the word of wiSdom so they just don't fEel worthy

to be members of the church. so lately we have been just trying so

hard to help them feel the love and support from the branch and we

have been hoping that we can heLp them realize that they are not

expected to be perFect, but just to try their best. so we were out at

their apartment trying to visit them but before we knocked we stopped

and prayed for a miracle. then we went and knocked but they Were not

answering the door so we felt like we should leave and come back in

about 10 minutes. we left and came back and tried again this time

someone answered the door, it was their roommate. he opened the door

and told us that they had not yet returned home. but then right at

that moment a van pulled into the driveway and their roommate looked

and said oh wait that's them. we were so Happy that we decided to waIt

and come back, it was the miracle that we were looking for, now we can

finalLy talk to all of them all together and welcome them back to the

church. this is what we wERe thinking as we hustled out to meet them

as they got out of their van, but as soon as we turned the corner out

into the parking arEA the van stopped. we waveD at them and suddenly

the van screeched out back onto the road and tore off down the street.

me and elder anderson stood there for a second in the now empty

parking lot and just trIed to process what happened. it turns out that

it wasN't quite the miracle that we thought, but that's just how it

Goes sometimes. we were actually able to meet them a little later in

the week with some members and have a good talk with them helping them

know that this gospel was not made for people who are perfect and

never make any mistakes in THEir live. this church is for people who

are imperfect and want to be better and can be better through the

atoning blood of jesuS Christ. he said that he will tRy to make it to

church next week and that he will do his best. i truly love the way

that this gospel works. it truly does work to heal broken hearts and

broken people through christ. i am so grateful for my savior and his

love and the fact that even though i have weaknesses and make mIstakes

daily i can come unto christ and be strengthened in his love. i am so

grateful for the blessing it is to share that love and be able to

witness the joy that it brings to others. this gosPel is the Truest

thing on earth and i love it! thank you all so much for supporting me

in spreading it. i love you all so mUch! i hope that you all have a

gReat wEek! See ya next week,

愛しています！

アルレッド長老

P-Day Hike

Representing the "Kobe" Japan Mission with my proselyting bag

Our District