Elder Travis John Bloomfield in Fukuoka, Japan: 5 December 2014 - Transfer Letter to All the Fukuoka Missionaries from the AP's.

Hey family,

Well this week was transfers so that's what we did. Elder Chung and Elder Dolbin went home on Friday. It was kinda sad. They were good buds to me. Well to be honest I don't really know what else to say about this week. Oh also in our mission we send out a newsletter sort of thing each transfer that has stuff about the missionaries and baptisms and such but there is a short letter the AP's write each transfer. I shall forward you the letter I wrote since this letter is shoboi.

During this Christmas Season we have the special opportunity to dedicate our work and service for Christ as a special gift for His birthday. There are 2 main ways we can better prepare ourselves to make this gift special for Christ this season.

1. The warm spring night when angel Gabriel visited the shepherds, their first reaction was not of excitement, but they were “sore afraid.” He promised them there “shall be a sign unto you” and as the story goes it was the star (a second witness) in the sky that led them to the Savior. Our work is very much the same. Often times when we first meet those prepared, their first reaction may be of denial, or fear, but not always immediate acceptance. Even the angel Gabriel, a pure angel the shepherds could see right in front of them, could not bring them unto Christ without a sign or a second witness. We cannot bring others unto Christ without the use of the Spirit, it is impossible. They need that sign or star to help light the darkness as they walk their own path to come unto Christ. It is for this reason that we must do everything we can to involve the Spirit in every part of our work.

2. After Christ completed the atonement he did not rest and ponder in satisfaction of everything he had just accomplished. Despite the difficulty of the atonement, after he announced “It is finished,” his love for those who had not yet been taught led him to go straight to the Spirit World to preach and teach this message to them. In this special Christmas Season we are blessed to have the spirit of Christ all around us. As we give up our will for his will and serve without conditions, we are blessed with this same compassion which will lead and motivate us to serve with the same selfless capacity that Christ showed for us during his life. He promises us as we give up our will for His, “we may be purified even as he is pure” and we will not only be able to serve as he did, but we will be lead to those souls seeking the truth.

Lastly, Christ said to those “which believed on him, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” Simply wearing a name tag and being a missionary does not make us His disciple. This calling comes depending on our heart and desires to follow His word. As we are obedient, abide by the Spirit, and despite any successes or failures continue to serve selflessly for those seeking the truth, Christ told us “I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” We challenge each of you every day in December, as you pray to Heavenly Father before you go to bed, ask yourself, “was I a disciple worthy of wearing Christ’s name today?”

We know many are currently prepared and waiting for us in this Christmas Season. As we work with the Spirit and serve without conditions, we will present Christ with the best gifts we can offer as his true disciples! We have been blessed with so many miracles already in this season, there is no denying Christ is leading this work. It is an honor to serve Him this season with all of you. You are all such amazing disciples and examples for those around you and your families back home! We love you so much!

Elder Sasaki, Chung, and Bloomfield