Missionary Life: Wardrobe refreshers

Sister Missionaries dress in business-like attire; conservative, modest, colorful.  The fabric must make sense for the climate and they always wear dresses or skirts.  Sister Breksa began her mission with enough matching individual pieces to make over 60 outfits.  Her wardrobe has been refreshed or added to with these 7 pieces, found at a local thrift store.  Since she was there and the clothes were purchased here - and her mother tends to gravitate toward the 80's look…we hope she'll like them and they'll fit! 

What Shall We Give? - Christmas Music Video

Google Map Photos of Iwakuni Yamaguchi Prefucture

What you may not know about the Christmas story, Part 3 of 3

lds.org

--Just as the angels appeared to the shepherds on the even of Christ's birth and said, "I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people," and angel told a king in the Americas 124 years before Christ was born, "I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy...though mayest declare unto they people, that they may also be filled with joy."


--The shepherds did not see the star.

--We need to remember that once the shepherds saw the Christ child, they "made known abroad the sayings which was told them concerning this child." "And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds." So they listened to the heavenly messengers, did as they were directed with haste, and then went out and told others.  Men of action!

--Scriptorian's believe that Elizabeth hid the baby John from Herod's horrific slaughter of babies younger than 2 1/2. Zacharias would not tell where John was.  That is why Zacharias was killed 'between the temple and the alter.' (Matthew 23:35)

What you may not know about the Christmas story, Part 2 of 3

http://www.stmary-dallas.org/stmary/images/stories/wise-men.jpg

--The real birthday of the Savior (using our modern 12-month calendar and modern revelation) is April 6th.  

--Matthew 1 tells the story of Joseph and the birth of Christ, while Luke 1-2 tells Mary's story.

--Gabriel appeared to Mary, Mary's cousin's husband, Zacharias, and Daniel (in the Old Testament - see Daniel 8:16 and 9:21).  Angels are messengers sent from our Heavenly Father.  

--Luke is writing his detailed and full account of the birth of Christ to his friend Theophilus. (Luke 1:1-4)

--To be 'taxed' as used in Luke 2 is to be taken account of - enrolled or registered.

--For Caesar Augustus, he did not call for the world to be taxed, but his world which is was empire.

--Luke 2:7 states that there was no room for Joseph and Mary in the inn, but we know that it should read, "inns." 

--The wise men saw the Christ child when he was about 2 years old. The number of wise men is actually not known, we get the three from the three gifts. 

--By having both educated men who could have audience with a king and also shepherds, Heavenly Father prepared that people from all walks of life could hear of Christ's birth and Divinity.

--Frankincense 'was imported into Judaea from Arabia. It was an ingredient in the holy incense for sacrificial purposes and was highly valued as a perfume.' (Bible Dictionary, page 676) 

--Myrrh was used 'as a perfume and for embalming. It was obtained from various thorny shrubs of the dry districts of Arabia and eastern Africa.' (Bible Dictionary, page 736)

What you may not know about the Christmas story, Part I of 3

lds.org

--Mary and Joseph were cousins. Joseph's father's name was Heli. Mary was the daughter of his uncle Jacob. So, Jesus' step grandfather's name was Heli and his maternal grandfather's name was Jacob.

--Mary was the mother to at least 7 children, noting that there must be at least 2 daughters to state that Jesus had sisters.

--From Matthew 13:55-56 and Mark 6:3... Jesus' family consisted of his stepfather, mother, and his 4 brothers and an undisclosed number of sisters. The brother's names are given;  James, Joses, Simon, Judas/Juda. 


--James was not one of the 12. He is also known as James the Just. He served in the Church of Jerusalem and probably wrote the Epistle of James.

--We don't have any more information on Joses or Simon.

--Judas/Juda wrote the Epistle of Jude. 

--It is assumed that Joseph died before the crucifixion, otherwise Mary would not have needed to be taken care of by John, as Jesus directed. 

Email Home 15 December

Yesterday I went to the Japanese branch in the morning and then went to the Iwakuni branch in the afternoon (because the chapel is still under construction we met just for Sacrament in a hall on base).

Afterwards we walked over to the senior couple missionaries' house for a lesson with T. He is a good guy.

The day before we went to our investigator's baptism. 

The work that you can do by being the Lord's instrument is amazing. You can be the Lord's instrument through doing His work His way.

I love being a missionary.

We Three Kings (Piano/Cello) - ThePianoGuys

Santa and Hotei

http://www.japanprobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/japanese-santa.png

Christmas in Japan is a secular fun event.  Only about 1% of Japanese people are Christians.  

When you read about how Christmas is celebrated in Japan, you may see images and read about an ancient Japanese god that serves in the role of the American Santa Claus. He is called Hotei.  He has a sack full of toys, is always very happy, surrounded by young children and it is said he has eyes on the back of his head.  He sees you himself…no need for a naughty or nice list.

However, when you are in Japan, you will see many traditional fun American Santas. And most likely, you will not see happy Hotei. 

Letter Home

So, we saw Brother P. [In the LDS church we call each other Brother and Sister.] come in with someone we had never seen before to church. So we went, introduced ourselves to J., stated our purpose, and started saying stuff like, “if you have any questions.…” When Sister P. came up and informed us that J. was a member of the church!

The members had a good laugh. Another brother was just standing there smiling the whole time!  He knew and didn’t tell us!

Dad, I just remember the time you brought a friend to church and the missionaries didn’t approach you or him.