3-18-18 I feel more blessed than I can even express

Kaise hei!!

Holy smokes, we are so busy. I love it so much. We spent all morning at the mission office taking packages and finalizing our plan for zone conference tomorrow. We as zone leaders were encouraged, if time permitted, to make something (a book mark or a little card) that we can distribute to the missionaries as a reminder to apply the principle from our workshop to their teaching. Elder Hess and I decided to make a little card with a quote on one side, and because Elder Hess had heard from several sources that I could draw, a little sketch on the other. Our workshop is on Chapter 10 of the Preach my Gospel, particularly the sections Asking Questions and Listening. We are to stress the importance of asking inspired questions (so as to discover the needs and desires of our investigators and teach accordingly) and listening to both the spirit and the investigator. In a video segment from The District that I watched not long ago, I learned something really valuable about listening that I've since tried to apply to my ministry. A mission president encourages his missionaries to listen, then ask, then listen. Before asking any questions, allow the spirit to inspire you as to what you need to say or ask. The spirit will read the investigator and tell you what they need, much like Ammon was able to perceive the thoughts of King Lamoni by means of spiritual inspiration (Alma 18). After listening, ask according to the impression. After which, listen intently to the investigator. "They won't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

When they see that you're genuinely concerned about their well-being and are there to help them to come closer to the savior, they will trust you enough to listen to you and share their true thoughts and feelings. Asking questions and listening is the key to knowing what's in their hearts.
Anyways, we decided to include this quote from PMG ch.10:

“More important than speaking is listening. These people are not lifeless objects disguised as a baptismal statistic. They are children of God, our brothers and sisters, and they need what we have. Be genuine. Reach out sincerely. Ask these friends what matters most to them. What do they cherish, and what do they hold dear? And then listen. If the setting is right, you might ask what their fears are, what they yearn for, or what they feel is missing in their lives. I promise you that something in what they say will always highlight a truth of the gospel about which you can bear testimony and about which you can then offer more. … If we listen with love, we won’t need to wonder what to say. It will be given to us—by the spirit and by our friends"

~Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Elder Hess also had that idea do have a sketch of a missionary with really big ears on the back, so I made it. At the mission office this morning we looked up the quote, scanned the drawing, put it all into the computers, printed it all out, laminated it, cut it, and made 32 cards for the combine zone conference tomorrow (Nausori and Korovou). Elder Hess and I are proud of our efforts, haha. Afterwards we had to pick the Kadavu elders up from the airport because they'll be joining us for conference. We probably won't have time to qito today because we have a few meetings we need to attend as well, but it's fine because we were able to get our priorities straight and done AND my back is jacked up so I've been instructed by the mission nurse to refrain from strenuous physical activity anyway. But yeah, good, busy day.

The last week was so busy, I don't remember much of it honestly. Appointment after appointment after appointment, we seldom even have time throughout the day for lunch (which always makes dinner taste so much sweeter). It's been such a huge blessing. Elder Hess is incredible, and the work is on fire. On Saturday, we were privileged to see the baptisms of three souls! One amazing woman named Uma, and two awesome kids named Violet and Claudius. We're looking at one more next week, and two more the following week. Honestly, I haven't been able to thank the Lord enough for this transfer. I feel more blessed than I can even express, and often times than I feel I deserve. The only downside is that we try to squeeze appointments in for the later part of the day or we arrive at our dinner appointments a little later, so we get home late (never too late, though) and absolutely exhausted. Planning is a struggle and we usually end up doing in the morning, when waking up on time is the next issue. However, we keep each other in check and are aware of the great blessings that spawn from the "small and simple things".

I'm way excited for zone conference tomorrow. I have a few more people I need to respond to, but I'm glad everything is going well back home!

Also, thank you all so much for the birthday wishes! We have a baptism scheduled for that day, so it will most definitely be a joyous one.

I love you all so much, have a great and blessed week!

Khyaal rakna,

Elder Ishibashi

Additional notes:
I was able to see Sera, Mere, Faith and Grace, my recent converts from my first time here in Nausori! Eta, the twins' mom, has since moved to Australia. It was SO nice to see them, I almost cried (but you're right Lehia, Ishibashis don't cry). I was also able to see Aunty Sia again! We'll be having dinner with her on Sunday.

Don't worry dad, if I don't come back the same size, I can at least promise I'll come home smaller than I was when I left haha.

We left the flat in a rush this morning and put aside saying our roadside prayer before leaving our street. Not 30 seconds after our prayer would have been said, Elder Hess was occupied checking to see if he'd brought his USB when at the very last second, we both looked up to see a prius coming around the bend at us head-on at high speed, not two seconds away from collision. We were able to JUST barely veer out of the way. Had we stopped to pray, we would have been going around that bend at different times, and we may have even had time to check where the drive was while the car was stopped. Still in a rush, we decided I'd bow my head in prayer while Elder Hess drove. That was our little miracle for today, haha.