Two last minute things...

1-Corey is flying into SD.  It's been crazy back and forth, but he's flying into San Diego on Friday.  That will be nice so we don't have to drive to LA and fight all of the traffic.

2-Corey's Open House is this coming Saturday.  If you'd like to bring something you can, but you don't have to.  And also, it's for anyone and everyone.  So come welcome Corey home!  It'll be so fun to see everyone!

So this is what it feels like to end (The LAST email!)

This is just so unreal.  I still have a ton of packing and we have quite a few really solid investigators.  I going to miss everyone in the branch so much.  I'm just going to work my hardest right until the end.  I am so excited to see all of you yet so sad to have to leave this wonderful place.  There still seems like there is so much I can do, so much I need to finish, but I know that is how it would be no matter when I would go home.  The great thing is the Lord will take care of it.  I am so happy I can say I did my part.  It is thanks to all of you:  all of your love, prayers, support, worrying, kind words, and much much more.  It is thanks to wonderful companions who I learned so much from and loved and cared about me.  It is thanks to two pairs of amazing mission parents who never gave up on me.  It is thanks to all of the people that I got to serve and that strengthen me not only during these two years but the 19 leading up to it as well.  I am so blessed.  The gospel is true.  It is so marvelously simple yet it can fix all problems, concerns, wounds, and fears.  I am so glad to be able to live this gospel the rest of my life.  God loves me and He loves you.  He sent His Son Jesus Christ to teach us the way to find true and lasting joy and return to His presence.  This work is wonderful and the best part is this isn't the end it is just another fabulous beginning...

 

Until we meet again...

Lots of love,
Corey

Well now that that is out of the way...

The baptism went great. There were a lot of things as far as preparation that took a lot of time I didn't expect and that could have gone smoother.  All in all Sister Mitoko Tanaka is a new member of the church and she is so excited to be .  She is going to be a great member.  I would love to write more but I need to get packing so I can keep working right up until the end.  One thing I committed to as I saw other missionaries getting ready to go home is to not take proselyting time to get ready to go home.  This is the one transfer that you can be sure about and prepare accordingly.  You are all the best.

Lots of love,
Corey

Flying into LAX

Elder Hogewoning will be flying into LAX, which was actually always part of the plan.  The change is that my dad and I, Christina, will be driving up to LA to pick him up, so he doesn't have to wait out the 4 hour layover.  Anyway, I just figured you'd all want to know.  So, I'll be seeing him earlier than anticipated!  :) 


Less than 2 weeks!

Everything is going fine and dandy

Well I'm pretty tired but that is just how it is.  I'm not counting days.  I don't really want to count anything but it is hard when Sundays and preparation days are both down to 2.  I am still not anywhere near where I need to be as far as organizing stuff for going home but hopefully I can make a dent in it today.

 

The conference with Elder Cook was really great.  He is such a bright, loving man.  He talked about how to be a great missionary: first love the people, next love your companion, third your mission president, fourth the Lord.  It is an order that I wouldn't have thought but I guess it is important to just love everyone.  I felt like I have gotten a lot better at loving and allowing myself to be loved on the mission.  Hopefully there will be a difference but I guess you will all have to be the judge of that.  He also talked about how we are all doing the right thing at the right time by being missionaries.  He said no matter the difficulties that might be back home, not only us, but everyone we love or ever will love will be blessed by our missionary service.  President Isa promised me a similar thing in my first interview with him and it is nice to reflect on how true it is.  I feel like all of you have grown leaps and bounds while I have been gone.  You are all closer to the Lord and one another.  I feel truly blessed here as a missionary and I hope all of you have noticed the same blessings in your lives.

 

The other piece of exciting news is that Sister Tanaka was gracious enough to move up her baptismal date so I could be here for it. She will be getting baptized on Sat 2/19 at 6:00 and confirmed the following morning in Sacrament meeting.  She asked me to baptize her and I am so grateful for such a wonderful opportunity at the end of this wonderful mission that I am on.

 

I can't remember if I ever wrote about Brother Hirayama.  He was an investigator in Kobe who was supposed to be baptized the Saturday after I transferred back to Marugame.  He didn't show up to his baptism and no one has been able to get a hold of him since then.  That is until yesterday.  The office elders called him, he actually picked up, and then agreed to come to church where they talked about what happened.  I guess he came to the church on the morning of his baptism to ask for some more time but no one was at the church.  Well all in all he is scheduled to be baptized on the 27th of February.

 

God is truly a God of miracles.  Whether they be little ones or big ones they are always there.  The more I think about all of these blessings the more that all of them just seem like big ones.  I'm so priviledged to be here this "extra" transfer. I know that He will be right there with me not only now but forever.  I hope you feel Him daily as much as I do.  Thank you for all of your prayers, love, and support.  They are what got me here, kept me here, and will carry me home.

Lots of love,
Corey

Sister Tanaka set a date!

This Wed. Tanaka Mitoko shimai set a date for baptism.  She wanted to get baptized on March 8 but when we talked about it again on Saturday she asked when I was going home and then decided to move her date so that I could be there.  She is so kind.  She understands the true meaning of the gospel and repentance than most people.  I feel privileged to be a small part of her conversion and baptism.  We are shooting for Feb 19 (Sat night) with the confirmation at church on the 20th.  Tanaka Shoji kyodai (Brother Tanaka) isn't at all opposed to her getting baptized but he still doesn't understand anything and isn't at the same commitment level as her.

We had 3 investigators at church this week including a nice man that we met on Saturday afternoon who agreed to come the next day.  We are finding and teaching.  It is great.  If you add up all of our lessons (lesons to investigators, members, and less-active members) we had 19 lessons this last week.  I'm trying to finish at a sprint and Elder Kendrick is right beside me all the way.  He is such a solid elder and we laugh and have so much fun together.  We are loving everyday and fighting back being way exhausted during planning at night. :)

The weather seems a little warmer the last couple of days.  There hasn't been more than a light sprinkle here and there as far a precipitation.  I guess there were some flurries a couple of times.  I said "It's snowing." Elder Kendrick is from Toronto so he said that it isn't snow.  I know that but I just like joking around and being the typical San Diegan.  The wind is probably the coldest thing around here.  Sometimes it really kicks up and chills you to the bone but I have plenty of warm clothes and since it is dry I where my overcoat a lot.  Last year in Yonago it was cold and really wet so I couldn't use it or it would have got ruined.

By the way we have a 3 hour mission conference on Sat morning with Elder Quinten L. Cook, which we are looking forward to.

Keep up the great work and thank you for all of your help keeping me focused on the work until the very end!

Lots of love,
Corey

NOTE-change and clarification

I just found out that there is a conflicting event on Friday, March 4, so we will have Corey's party on Saturday, March 5 instead.  Please make a note of that change.

Also, just in case anyone is unsure, Corey will fly into San Diego from Japan on Friday, March 4, exactly a month from tomorrow.  I just wanted to clarify.

If you have questions feel free to ask me!  I appreciate your support and love for Elder Hogewoning, and I know he does too!

Thanks,
Christina

PS Here's the link again to RSVP...
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188692244489133