We can overcome!

     What an amazing week it has been!! It has been full of miracles, blessings, and the Lord's love witnessed in humble hearts. 

     How are you all doing back home? What's new? I am just loving life here in Sakado! It has been the best ever! 

   

     We went to the temple last week and it was way good. I was the last one in the Celestial room with my companion because I just could not leave. It was so hard thinking that I would only have one more time after that to enter into that temple as a missionary. It was quite and emotional conversation with the Father. 

     One thing I did that I loved that a member told us he does is when he enters the Celestial room he looks at the picture of Christ and if it seems like he is smiling or happy then he knows by a confirmation of the spirit that he is doing as the Lord would have him do. If he appears solemn or serious or sad then he knows there is something he needs to change and he prays sincerely asking "what lack I yet?" And receives a confirmation by the spirit of what he must improve. I likewise tried the same approach. I loved that insight. I always love to take 10-15 minutes and just look up at my Savior just thanking him for all he has done for me and for his atoning sacrifice. Loved that time. 

     The work is flying by as I fall more and more in love with this place. Time flies when you are having fun, especially in the Lord's service. Loving this time. 

     Last night we had a Hula activity at the ward where one of the sisters who is from Hawaii taught the youth and some parents how to Hula dance and it was so fun. We had like 18 youth come with some adults and that was huge for us!! Literally huge!! So awesome. Our mission school (classes where we teach mainly english, and sometimes talents like sports, music, etc) got up to 54 students this past week which is a huge record high for our area and is so amazing to see the hand of the Lord in this area. We are trying to use these activities to change the hearts of young people in Japan regarding Christians. Helping them see the light of Christ and invite the gospel into their lives rather than us just pushing into theirs, as Elder Bednar taught us. Also we are teaching English to this group of Brazilians at their restaurant in this back room and it is so fun! We got 10 students this week. We have one member come and he helps translate it into Portuguese for them and we teach. So fun! Love this work! Missionary work is not just tracting. It is service, love, working with members, and showing Jesus Christ every day in every way you can. Great week!

     This week I was studying in Revelations 2 and 3, and fell in love with the repeated phrase "He that overcometh..." It is repeated by John 7 times in that chapter as a plea to all of us to just hold on. He inserts the phrase "he/him that overcometh" followed by powerful promised blessings to him who does overcome. The hardest principle of this gospel is remembrance. In our weakest moment of temptation when we are so down or so vulnerable or so idle and the adversary comes, we forget. That is all satan needs us to do for us to fall. We forget the promised blessings of the atonement and all that awaits us in the life to come if we can just overcome. "I submit to you that no power, priesthood or otherwise, is given by God so universally to so many with virtually no control over its use except self-control. And I submit to you that you will never be more like God at any other time in this life than when you are expressing that particular power. 

"Of all the titles he has chosen for himself, Father is the one he declares, and creation is his watchword, especially human creation, creation in his image. His glory isn't a mountain, as stunning as mountains are. It isn't in sea or sky or snow or sunrise, as beautiful as they all are. It isn't in art or technology, be that a concerto or computer. No, his glory and his grief is in his children." 

     May we this week be ever more alert and remember, in the time of our trial and temptation, why we are here, who we are, our true identity as sons and daughters of God, heirs to the kingdom. We are His glory and His grief. We are all He thinks about. May we use that ever so powerful use of agency, self-control. We truly will never be more like God than when we use it. Isn't that so powerful!!! I love, love, loved that quote! That is from Elder Holland when he was President of BYU. 

     May we remember what our Savior did for us and all that he felt so we do not have to have him feel more. May we remember the countless, countless blessings that await to "he that overcometh." John saw the latter days and he saw the temptations we would face, so it is no reason that he would give 7 reminders to us, ever forgetful, and "slow to remember" people. When temptations arise or trials bear down and we feel we will succumb, give in, or give up, let us remember who we are and all that comes to "he that overcometh." I have a challenge! Write down on a little note or sticky note, who your true identity is, the blessings that await if we only overcome, and include a picture of the Savior. Put it in your room, make it your background picture on your phone, put it in the bathroom mirror, on the dash in your car, or at your office. In this upcoming Easter time, let us remember. Let us move forward and never look back. Let us remember Him. Oh if we could have a full week of remembering. Isn't that what we promise every week in Sacrament meeting? 

     Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Trevor Aiken