What? Krispy Kreme!

YES!!!  Krispy Kreme!!

     Hello!  This past week was awesome. Started off with a huge game of Capture the Flag in Yoyogi Park. Which was followed by, on the next day, numerous mosquito bites on my right leg that got so swollen because they were so close together and huge that they turned black and it was a great time for everyone. Never had mosquito bites hurt like that. 

     Sadly, one of the elders in our apartment this week had to go home early because of health reasons and he was struggling. We became a trio this last week because there are not enough missionaries in the area as of now to send us another missionary, but hopefully we'll get one. We are down to about 150+ missionaries right now. Our mission is so small... It was at 220 when I got to the mission. It is decreasing every day. But we, the three Amigos of Adachi are killing it right now. It is just straight fire up in this place. There are some amazing miracles being seen!  We had zone meeting this week and I got called the night before and was asked to sing I Know That My Redeemer Lives. I had no practice but I got to sing and I loved it. I just love singing so much. I definitely want to try to sing when I get home. But it was great week altogether. It went so fast. I cannot believe how fast it has gone. I am treasuring every second and I have never been happier! But anyway... on to the good stuff. 

     This last week, I was thinking about desires and how strong my desire is to follow my Savior Jesus Christ and turn away from the things of the world and the temptations of the adversary. The thought really hit me that Jesus Christ and Satan are very different people with very different purposes in the grand scheme of things, but in reality they have many things in common. One of the most notable being.. they will never make you follow them. It is always our choice.  The Savior did not make the water solid for Peter to walk on, and he will not do so now for us. He gives us the choice to choose faith and to choose Him. We stand in a world where we have to choose between two forces and the choice is ours. 

     In the pre-existence as everyone was making their decision to follow the Savior or the adversary, they stood in a valley with a fence, the line that drew the decision they would make. One by one everyone chose their side and faded off into the distance as they picked a side of the fence and walked with the Savior or the adversary away in their directions. Yet, this one man could not decide. He could not choose the way to take. He liked things from both. So he had the ever so brilliant idea come to his mind that he would sit on the fence. He would straddle one leg on each side and he would have the best of both worlds. He sat there alone thinking he had won; had made the perfect decision. As he sat there Satan returned to the fence to find the man and asked him what he was doing. He told him, "I am sitting on the fence," he said so ever confidently. Satan replied simply, "Don't you know? I own the fence." 

     The choice will ever be ours to choose the path we take and whom to follow. We chose it once and made the right choice, but we make it again every single day. To follow the Savior or to follow Satan. But everyday we wait and sit idly by in the middle ground we only serve him, the one who would bring us down to misery and woe. The one who wants us to fail and be miserable. We cannot serve God and mammon. Christ will never make us follow him, and even though we often think otherwise, Satan cannot either. He cannot make us fall into temptation and turn from our Master, Lord, and King. Choose the Savior. Choose Him. Each and every day choose Him! The most important control is self control. It is never too late to choose Him. Because he is always choosing you. He always will. He loves you. He lives!  

     Have the greatest week ever everyone!

\

Love,

Elder Trevor Aiken

I found my friend!

This is my friend!

    One day... One day and I am out a year. I cannot believe it. It has gone so fast! I do not know where the time has gone! How much I have changed... holy cow. It was a very fun week and so much happened. Including my comp going to the hospital on Monday, (which is why I am writing today) but he is okay! But there was a blessing from that experience, because today.. I am going to Costco... I am going to eat Costco pizza... Just another testimony builder for why I am supposed to be here I am sure of it. Haha just kidding but only a little bit. But all joking aside, on to the spiritual side of things...

     The following event took place in a ward in Salt Lake City in 1974. It occurred during a sacrament meeting and was told to me by a Regional Representative of the Twelve who was in the meeting. A young man, just before leaving on his mission stood in sacrament meeting and bore in essence the following testimony: 

Brothers and Sisters, as you know, the past two weeks I've been waiting for my mission call. During the time I was waiting I had a dream. I knew it was not an ordinary dream. I dreamed I was in the pre-existence and awaiting my call to come to earth. I was filled with the same anticipation and excitement that I had before I received my mission call. In my dream I was talking to a friend, and I felt a special closeness to him, even though I've never met him in this life. As we talked a messenger came and gave me a letter. I knew it was my call to go to earth. In great excitement my friend and I opened the letter. I gave it to him and asked him to read it aloud. It said: "You've been called to earth in a special time and to a special land. You will be born to the true church and you will have the priesthood of God in your home. You will born into a land of plenty, in a land of freedom. You will go to earth in the United States of America." 

My friend and I rejoiced as we read my call, and while we were rejoicing the messenger returned. This time he had a letter for my friend. We knew it was his call to earth. My friend gave me the letter to read aloud. His letter said: "You've been called to go to the earth in circumstances of poverty and strife. You will not be raised in the true church. Many hardships will attend your life. Your land will be fraught with political and social difficulties - which will hinder the work of the Lord. You will be born in Costa Rica." We wept, my friend and I, as we read his call. And my friend looked at me with tears in his eyes, and said, "When we are down on earth, you in your choice land and me in Costa Rica, my friend, please come and find me." 

The this young missionary, with tears in his eyes, said, "Brothers and Sisters, I have received my mission call. I am going to Costa Rica." 

There is a sequel to the story. About a year after the sacrament meeting, the bishop received a letter from the missionary in Costa Rica. The letter had one sheet of paper in it and on that sheet written in capital letters were four words: 

I FOUND MY FRIEND! 

     This past week held one of the most powerful experiences of my life. I truly did find my friend, and just as this story, it was just around my one year mark. I could not of asked for a better way to celebrate my halfway mark than to baptize Rose just 5 days shy of it. It was such a special experience for me. When Rose came up out of the water she quietly gasped. 

Rose's baptism!

     Only I heard, but I did not ask her why because I thought it was just because she was a little nervous because I made sure she went low into the water so her hair or dress did not come out. But later that night we went and visited her and we talked about her baptism and just how happy she was and I just felt that I should ask about the actual experience. She asked me if I heard her gasp and I told her I had. She told me the reason. She said that as she was lowered into the water, it was as if all of the anger, heartache, and despair she had felt from her divorce and from just all of life's challenges, along with her sins, mistakes, and bad feelings, could not enter the water with her. She said that as she lowered beneath the surface, she could literally feel them leave her body as if a weight was lifted. She said that she felt as if her past could not enter the water with her because she was being reborn and beginning a new life. It was one of the most beautiful and amazing descriptions of baptism that I had ever heard. She was so happy. During her baptismal service, I sat beside her up on the stand the whole time. We did it the hour before Sacrament meeting so a lot of members were there and it was so powerful. When the service ended, 40 or so members lined up single file with flowers, chocolate, or gifts  to give to Rose and congratulate her. I was next to her and tried to move away because it was her big day, but every single member came up to me after talking to Rose and thanked me. Just a sincere thank you for what I had done. I had truly only been an instrument in the hands of the Lord and it was not anything I had done, but the members were so grateful that they could have a baptism in their ward, partake of that spirit, and have a new member come into the fold that their joy was bursting! It truly was such an amazing sacred experience. I could not have asked for a better week to reach my year mark. 

     Can't we all do as Rose did this last week and lower ourselves back down into the waters of humility and change? Start anew through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ? Cannot we all gasp at the glory of our Savior as we find ourselves clean and renewed? I know and testify that we can. Because our Lord has promised us so, He Always. Keeps. His. Word. Let us all be willing to lower ourselves down to where he can lift us up. Let it be down on our knees. The more you bend your knees and lower yourself to the ground, the higher you will leap as push yourself off the ground, upward. Let us change ourselves! Let us allow ourselves to put ourselves lower in humility and also accept the low times of life, knowing that the lower we get, the more force and strength we will receive on our next upward leap. As our lows get lower, our highs are magnified. 

     I love you all!

Elder Trevor Aiken

Week 50!

     It has been an amazing week, has it not?? Our investigator Rose is doing awesome! She is really progressing. She is seriously just a rock star! 

     This week we got to go teach again at our weekly service that we found at the school called Free School. I do not know if I told you because my memory is terrible, but it's a place where kids go because they were bullied or mocked and never felt accepted, so they dropped out of high school and they come to this Free school. We go once a week and teach the youth English. It is way fun and so awesome. Also, fun fact. In Japan, middle school is the last required thing for school. High school is optional and you actually have to apply just to get in so getting into good schools is competitive. Thought that was interesting. Also, no school buses in Japan. Kids have to take the train or bus or walk. What else... This sister in my ward keeps giving me recipes and teaching me how to make desserts so I am getting pretty good at those (just for future reference if you are ever hungry). I have also started on my official diet with 6 small meals a day through out the day and it is the best! How funny that change is from my pre-mission life. I hated healthy stuff more than anything, but now I am addicted. I hate eating fattening. How the mission will change you! 

It has also been interesting seeing my companion enter his last two weeks and just seeing how fast it goes. I will hit a year one week after he leaves. It is just so insane how fast it is going... You never really know until you experience it yourself. 

     Sorry that was all over the place but this week was interesting. This week two things finally happened in my mission! First, I finally let an elder cut my hair... And... As I am writing this it is still not finished because we did not have enough time to finish last night after planning so I am just trying to avoid the public eye until after it is finished but it is so abunai (dangerous). The second, and funniest thing of my week, was when a woman came up to us and told us she had lived in America for a little while and that she asked if we were Mormons and we said yes we are. Then the first thing she says (it was hard for us to try to figure out what she was saying at first because of her broken English) is, how many mothers do you have? Yes - I finally got it in Japan! I was wondering when it would happen. She asked, if it was one wife for each day of the week in our church or how it worked and continued to say that that would be the dream life for her, if she could have a different husband each day of the week. Needless to say it was the most interesting day. Sometimes Heavenly Father sends people our way because he knows we just need a good laugh sometimes I think. 

     But anyway! This week I wanted to talk about forgiveness! Sometimes it can be a pretty scary word and sometimes it is not on our agenda, but I love the poem that President Monson quotes.

School thy feelings, O my brother;

Train thy warm, impulsive soul.

Do not its emotions smother,

But let wisdom’s voice control.

School thy feelings; there is power

In the cool, collected mind.

Passion shatters reason’s tower,

Makes the clearest vision blind. …

          

School thy feelings; condemnation

Never pass on friend or foe,

Though the tide of accusation

Like a flood of truth may flow.

Hear defense before deciding,

And a ray of light may gleam,

Showing thee what filth is hiding

Underneath the shallow stream.

School thy feelings, O my brother;

Train thy warm, impulsive soul.

Do not its emotions smother,

But let wisdom’s voice control.

     How often have we let anger control our emotions and we say something that we do not mean. We say things that end up, because of our pride or the pride of others, ruining relationships for lifetimes, sometimes generations. With family, friends, or the like. Why do we do it? Why do I do it? Why do we let anger control us? Why do we feel that when someone wrongs us that they need to be punished or wronged back? Stop thinking that if we do not forgive, justice will not be paid. God sees everything, and a tear today will be paid back a hundred times with tears of rejoicing tomorrow. Let us please stop getting angry or impatient with others just because they have weaknesses or flaws in their personality or actions. We all do! We all are trying to improve. We all have problems. Honestly think, are we any different to them in God's eyes? See others not as they are, but as who they can become. By the way, am I the only one who keeps going back to Elder Renlund's talk about seeing people through God's eyes or a parents eyes, because that talk was so good. But if we saw those around us as children of a Father in Heaven or treated them as if he were present in the room, I feel we would treat people so much differently than we do now. Please, let us strive to be better in any way that can. Please forgive, and give the rest to the Lord. Free yourself of the anger, the grudge, the weight. Just let it go. Having that contention does not help anyone. 

   The happiness we feel when we win an argument is so temporary and fake. Even if we know we are right, let us have the strength, be the better person, and just let it go. Give it up. Lose once in a while. Little by little our hearts will be purified. That is my thought for the week. 

     I hope you all have the best week ever brothers and sisters. I love you all so much! Thank you for all you do! 

Love,

Elder Aiken

Time flies!

  

    Hello everyone, how are you doing? I am doing so good!! I am so sorry it has been so long. It has been a crazy few weeks. 

     This past week was amazing! We got to go to the temple which was just a great experience. I love the love I feel there. I love the peace and everlasting joy that just hits you as you walk in the front doors. It is literally like you are just leaving this world for a few hours. You can get away. Then I hit my 11 month mark which does not even make sense. And believe it or not I felt my first earthquake on that day. I know it is crazy but I never felt one before then. I slept through one or two but that was it. Plus, I was not even close to the big earthquake the other day if you are wondering, so I'm fine, but it has been hard to see families who have family there and the worry they feel. It is scary that it could happen at any time. A big earthquake has been predicted to hit Tokyo but I have no idea when. 

     But anyway! It is going too fast. This transfer is already over in 2 weeks and then I will be transfer 8. Half way. Disgusting. Time flies when you are in the work of the Lord! 

     This Sunday we had a huge miracle I want to share really fast. One of our main investigators, Norris, has canceled the last 5 times we have tried to meet and we did not know why but he finally told us he fell down his stairs and that was the only thing he told us. So we stopped inviting him to lessons for a week or so while he was recovering and just followed up.  He works two jobs Monday-Saturday and Sunday. Sunday came and I asked how taking the stitches out went and he said, "I am coming to church man." He had never come and that had been our main problem was getting him to church. But he came and told us he fell because he was drunk and he knew he fell because he was not obeying the word of God and he needed to stop drinking. (Humbled) miracle. Then (he had already asked his boss for work off on Sunday's but his boss said no) he told us that his boss told him that he could have Sunday off to rest because he had told him that he wanted to worship on Sunday's! (Humbled) Miracle! Then he had a great experience and we had a lesson after church where we taught about fasting and committed him to fast this Wednesday night to know if he should quit his job on Sunday and come to church every Sunday. He said he would and we will do it with him! Such a cool miracle! Please pray for Norris! 

     It has been a great week, but even more so a spiritual one. Seeing these people in such worry and sadness because of the earthquake and those who were lost to it was heartbreaking to see and it was hard to see their sadness. But such peace came to me because of what I know. Truly I thought this gospel is the glue that keeps my heart together. Knowing that anyone I lose is never lost. They are just being turned over to better hands. Not even to the point of losing loved ones, but even just being separated from them for an extended time. I miss my family terribly, but I know that our Father has a plan for all of us and I put them in His hands because there are none better. We need not worry about the "separations" of mortality. Sometimes separating from family, friends, or those we love can be overwhelming and can seem unfair, but true love must contain the idea of permanence. This gospel is true love. We have someone who gave up his life for us, because He, above all, knew how permanent love is. He knew it was not the end. Rather, His sacrifice made it so there is no end! Never give up!  I miss you all terribly, but I rejoice in the thought of seeing you all again, because I know I will. If we rejoice in such a powerful way when we see those we love, think of the rejoicing in heaven for our Father in Heaven when we return unto Him. He loves us perfectly and desires more than anything to see us again. The hope of this gospel is forever. There are happy endings and risings from the dust. I love this gospel with all that I am, and I am so grateful to be here to share this message. There is no harder separation for anyone at any time than our Father's separation from us. Let us all live to close that gap and return to him. Let us all live to live again. I hope you all have the best week ever! 

Love,

Elder Aiken

Fellowship of the Unashamed!

The cherry blossoms are out!

    This week was such an awesome week! Our area is progressing so much and it has been so fun.  I had my first district meeting as the DL this transfer and it is the best. I love to lead and I'm grateful for the opportunity! I love to be able to share my testimony and testify to these amazing missionaries that they can and will see miracles according to their faith. But the best part is being able to learn from them. I get to talk to each of them as my brothers and sisters of God and ask them the best ways they have found that would help me to return with them to our Father. I love this work so much. This is the best time of my life. It goes way too fast. I cannot miss home because I am so busy that I do not have time to and it is the best blessing ever. 

     I hope everyone enjoyed conference as well. We do not get to see it until the week after here so no spoilers! It is funny, before my mission I liked conference, but when I was younger I liked it because it started an hour later than church! As a missionary it is like a new movie is coming out that has been hyped up all year. I get so excited for conference. To feel of that spirit in such abundance, and to be able to receive revelation just for me personally. Isn't it amazing?? How great is this gospel everyone??!! Is there a greater joy??

     I had the chance this week to go and give my first blessing in Japanese and it was so interesting to see the spirit call upon the Japanese I have learned to help me say what was in my heart to the best of my ability. It was such an amazing experience. But I think the best part of Japan right now is that we have Sakura season! That is when the cherry blossoms come out and it is the most beautiful time of the year! I love it!

     Brothers and sisters I am just so happy. Ammon put it perfectly in Alma 26:

     "Behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with cjoy, and I will rejoice in my God... yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel."

     I cannot describe the joy that feels my heart as I share this gospel message to as many as I can. I am truly changed forever. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I cannot put it into words very well, but I will use the aptly spoken words by Bob Moorehead.

     "I am a part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made... I am a disciple of Jesus. I won't look back, go back, hold back, let up, slow down, back away, hesitate of be still! My past is redeemed, my present remade and my future re-aimed. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, dwarfed goals, deficient faith, and cheap grace.

     I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, prestige or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, lean by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. 

     My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my gift is grace and my God is good... My road is narrow, my way is rough my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear and my power sufficient. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, distracted, deterred, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, wilt in the heat of the battle, or meander in e maze of mediocrity. 

     I won't give up, shut up, let up, or burn up until I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, worked up and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed. I walk in good company, I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go until he comes, give until I drop, preach until all know, stay until all gland work until He stops. And when He comes to get His own, He'll have no trouble recognizing me... My colors will be clear! Amen."

     Have the best week ever! I am a part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed. 

Love,

Elder Trevor Aiken

Transfer #7

     I cannot believe that I am officially transfer 7. That is so insane. Time flies by way too fast! My companion and I are both staying which is awesome. It is his last transfer in the mission so I will send him home.  I am district leader again over 10 missionaries and it is best news ever! I love being district leader so much! It pushes me to be the best that I can possibly be. Especially when we have sisters in our district who had 38 lessons last week to finsih the transfers. For Japan that is a lot!! 

     But we had the biggest miracle Easter Sunday yesterday to finish off the transfer! We worked so hard to lead up to it by working with the youth, members, and investigators this last transfer. 

     We were able to see our friend Ben enter the waters of baptism, I got to go to the temple and be baptized for my friend Natalia's grandpa which I will never forget, and we have a date for the 16th of next month to go with all of the youth and Ben to the temple to do family work. Just an eventful transfer which I will never forget. I have never seen the Lord's hands at work so much in my mission. We had an activity with the youth and we had 4 investigators come which was such a miracle, then the miracle of Easter is when we had 11 investigators come to church! Such an amazing transfer! I am so excited to push harder, work harder, and give my all to the Lord. I love this work! 

     Yesterday was such an amazing day. Easter Sunday. He is risen. He is risen! Are there sweeter words for the ear to hear. Our Savior and Redeemer of the world stands once again in the kingdom of heaven. He was in the tomb for three days, but He was not resting. He was teaching with every second He had in paradise. He gave everyone the chance to hear His word. I love my Savior so much. I want to give every second I have to this work. I will never give up, or waste His time. He never did. He cared for and loved everyone. He performed His Atonement with greater love than man can hold. He suffered EVERYTHING, so that we may not have to. Everything.  I do not think we can even comprehend. 

16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit--and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink--

     If it made Him, the greatest of all, to tremble and bleed from every pore because of pain, why do we still sin in our wish as Alma said. Why would we put that upon Him and why would we put that upon ourselves? We do not need to feel that anymore! Give it to Him! Give up the pain and misery! HE took it! Lift up your eyes to the Horizon. To the Son, for soon He cometh. Never give up! He atoned for us. At the heart of Atonement is one. He atoned for all of us! For you.. for me.. everyone. He knows you perfectly. He knows each and every one of us as we are and as we will one day be. Hold on. Let Him walk with you every step of the way. Let Him carry you when you cannot stand. Let Him guide your life and be the way. Let Him save you. Let Him. That is all He leaves to us. All we need to do... is Let Him. 

     I pray that the Savior can reside in all of our thoughts and hearts in this Easter season. For Him "it is finished," but for us, our work still goes on. May we work to bring any and all unto Him once again. 

     I love you all so much! The new year is a great time for a fresh start, but if there was ever a day to change it all and find the path, it is in this Easter time. In the time of our Risen Lord. I love you all so much! Have the best week ever! 

Love,

Elder Trevor Aiken

Stay out of the "shade"!

Ben's baptism!

     It was such an amazing experience this week to be able to stand in the circle and confirm our investigator Ben a member on my 10 month mark. It was such a spiritual moment for me. I loved it. Also, being able to sing at his baptism was such an amazing experience for me and I loved that moment. 

     This week was such a great week with so many experiences. One of which was when I was walking down the street and walked past a place that was selling baked yams and it was so natsukashi (nostalgic). It reminded me of my mom's candied yams soooo much. It was a good smell but I did not get it. But what I did get could not be stopped. The temptation to eat it was too powerful. It is a waffle in the shape of a fish, that is filled with custard cream and is lightly coated with powdered sugar. Good gravy it was like Christmas morning! So good! I am not going to say that I had two but I am not going to say that I did not have two if you know what I mean. But anyway,  it was a great week with the temple, a baptism, and really good food!

     This week we had a great opportunity to work with many different people in many different cultures and there is one thing that I learned and connected to a talk I had read earlier last week that, "a distraction doesn’t have to be evil to be effective--sometimes it can just be shade." As we talked with investigators and listened to their concerns, I recalled upon my own life before my mission and realized how many things we do that do not seem wrong. In the story from the talk, (I cannot remember the name sorry) when cows are being corralled down a hot dusty road, they will wander off the sides to the pleasing shade of the trees to get out of the hot sun. How many times in our lives do we do things that seem harmless and are not evil. They are not sin, just getting some shade from the heat of the day or the stress of the world. Sleeping in a little bit on Sundays because the week was so hard. Listening to music all the time to reduce stress and losing time to listen to the spirit. Avoiding family members or other people because you need time alone and you do not want to talk. Sleeping, listening to music, or being alone are not bad things at all! We do them all the time! (Unless you're a missionary because you cannot be alone). But those things if used in abundance or in situations or circumstances where they do not belong, such as Sunday mornings or whatever it may be, harm us in unseen ways. They are not in the slightest evil, however, Satan uses shade to lead to the total darkness. If you miss one Sunday it is a million times easier to miss again. If the music you listen to is inappropriate or loud, you lose the chance to have quite moments to have the spirit to be with you. Yet sometimes we think we do have other quiet moments which are really idol moments. We see them as so harmless to just have some time alone all the time. But Satan uses that time to fill an empty stage in our mind with bad thoughts or temptations. He loves idol hands.  I plead with you to avoid the shady things. Life is hard, no doubt about it. But if we just stay on the path, even though sometimes the sun is blaring down, it will be a perfect happiness that awaits us at the other side at the end of the road. I love you all so much and I hope you have the best week ever! Look for shade in your life. Find the light. I pray that we all can do so. 

Love,

Elder Trevor Aiken