Time to Say Goodbye

Hello All,

This week has been a roller coaster of emotions as we prepare to go home. Our time is now split between packing and saying goodbyes. It’s a difficult time.

Goodbye Parties

Last Wednesday we had a goodbye party with some of our institute students. As an activity, the students asked Sister Low to teach them how to cook something that she’s made for them in the past, so they could make it themselves after we’re gone. Sister Low decided to teach them how to make breadsticks. They’re super easy to make and she’s made dozens of batches of breadsticks on this mission. The kids always gobble them up.

After that we had some fun, ate together, and said goodbyes. We went home in tears.

On Saturday, the Shibuya YSA Branch also held a goodbye party for us. Actually, they prefer to call it a “See You Soon” party. They refuse to say goodbye to us.

This time, the kids demanded that they cook for us. They packed the kitchen and worked together and prepared an amazing meal.

A lot of people showed up and surprised us. Kids who used to live in the YSA Branch, but are now married and moved away came. The stake presidency came. People we first introduced the gospel to and who are now baptized members came. While we admit it was a joy to see everyone, it was also extremely emotional for us. Imagine what it feels like when someone walks up to you, bows in front of you and says, “Thank you for changing my life.” That happened multiple times at this party.

We struggled all night to just keep it together. We didn’t make it.

Sunday

On Sunday, President Murakami asked us to bear our testimony for our final day in the branch. It really ended up being a sacred, special meeting for us. Sister Low spoke about how her family has been blessed while we served. We all have been blessed in ways we never imagined.

Elder Low spoke about how missionaries have authority to promise blessings, and then he promised blessings to all in the room. He promised that their hopes and dreams will come true. He promised those working on a career will be successful in finding one. He promised those who desire a temple marriage that they will receive one. “God cannot and will not withhold that blessing from you. I promise it will come.”

Then he promised them joy. Our purpose, according to Father Lehi, is to find joy. Elder Low told them that as long as they continue to live the gospel, their life will be full of joy. “Blessings you can’t imagine are coming your way. I promise.”

At the end of the second hour, the branch members stood in a circle around us and sang to us. They sang a song that church members here in Japan love and we have come to love called, “I’ll Find You, My Friend.”

We all stood together, in tears, and sang.

Later Sunday afternoon, a friend who has been coming to the branch for some time got baptized. It was pure joy to be there to watch him get baptized as one of our final events at church.

The baptism ceremony was actually miraculous. When we opened the doors to the font, the lights over the font were off, and nobody could figure out how to turn them on. We decided everyone could see well enough and proceeded with the lights off.

When he came out of the water, his face was beaming. It shone. He looked full of joy and the room lit up. Elder Low turned to Sister Low and said, “Did you see that?! Where did the lights come from?”

He looked so happy. Elder Low was moved to tears. Everyone clapped.

The next day, our newly baptized member went to city hall with one of the sisters in our branch and together they registered their marriage. They’ll be sealed in the temple in a year. What a blessing.

As Elder Low watched this young man bear his testimony for the first time as a member, while his soon-to-be-wife looked on with tears streaming down her face, he thought of the Savior’s words at the end of His visit to the Nephites.

“And now behold, my joy is full.”

– 3 Nephi 17:20

There is still more to come. Later this week we’ll officiate in a temple session with our branch members one last time. Then we’ll meet with President and Sister Tueller and have a testimony meeting with the rest of the departing missionaries. And we still need to pack.

We’re trying to stay strapped in and secure as we go through this, but it will be very difficult and bittersweet.

We are so blessed. We still can’t believe we have had the privilege to be here and experience all this. It’s been incredible and beyond anything we could have imagined.

Stay tuned. More pictures will be posted later.

Love,

Elder and Sister Low