"Leap of Faith"

We had a wonderful experience with the Kobe Japan Mission this week. Fred wrote our blog today because this experience has everything to do with him.


On Friday morning at 4:30 (7:30 p.m. Japan Time) we had a fireside with Elder Wada of the Quorum of the Seventy and the Area President for Japan. The fireside was for the Japan Kobe missionaries and friends that they are teaching. Elder Wada talked about the “Leap of Faith,” using as examples from the Book of Mormon of Lehi’s family journeying into the wilderness and their struggles obtaining food after his son, Nephi, broke his bow. He also used excerpts from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where the “Leap of Faith” is portrayed. The stories were powerful and made me think about my faith.


Almost exactly forty-one years ago, I was having my own struggles as a new missionary in Nagano, Japan. I was cold (the 1998 Winter Olympics were held in Nagano), struggling with a difficult language, and frustrated with the seemingly very little success as a missionary.



One day I taught a 15-year-old boy about Joseph Smith seeing God the Father and Jesus Christ, and this boy agreed to meet with us again. The next lesson went poorly, and we briefly lost contact. I then called his home on the telephone, and in broken Japanese asked to talk to him. His mother got him, and we met again, and this time he took it seriously and began reading the Book of Mormon and praying, gaining a testimony of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.


This young man is the same Elder Wada that is now a General Authority for the church. We both had to experience our own “Leap of Faith,” me to push on when it was hard, and him to believe. The fireside was a touching reunion, and I look forward to when we can go to Japan and meet in person. (The missionary in the picture is not me.)

Thank you,

Elder Allan




Comments

  1. Adam BurkeyNovember 7, 2021 at 2:54 PM

    That is tremendous! What a great testimony that God is the one in charge and such a blessing that you were able to be that instrument in His hands!!! Bless you guys! Our mission papers are almost finished. So excited.
    Adam and Laura Burkey

    ReplyDelete

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