Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Testimony Request

Just a reminder to everyone: I'm still making my booklet of testimonies from family and friends, and I would love to have yours!

My mission president is encouraging the incoming missionaries to bring a photo album of things about our home and families ("American things") to show investigators in Japan. I thought it would be a great idea to include testimonies along with photos to share. I'll translate them into Japanese, but I've heard that Japanese kids learning English love to practice, so what better way to practice reading than by reading testimonies of Jesus Christ!

Additionally, I'd like to translate and write the testimonies I've gathered into copies of the Book of Mormon that I give away. I think having a personal statement of truth inside written by someone living thousands of miles away could make a special impact on an investigator learning about our worldwide church.

Here's what I am looking for: a short and simple testimony, maybe one or two paragraphs long, expressing your feelings about Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, the current prophet, the Book of Mormon, eternal families, or anything else that you hold especially dear and would like to share with investigators in Japan. 

I've received a few since Christmas, and I would love as many as possible! You can leave it as a comment on this blog, email me (until February 8th), email Tracey, or send me a snail mail letter at any time. If you have photos of you or your family doing fun American things, I would love to have those too!

Thank you, everyone!
Brittany

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Farewell

Here's the text of the little speech I gave this Sunday for anyone who couldn't be there!


For the Sacrament meeting program, we had quite a line-up: Benjamin spoke, Tanner played a primary song medley on piano, then Tracey and Larry spoke. Lacey, Bridgette, and Tracey sang "May I Serve Thee" accompanied on piano by me, and then I took up the last fifteen minutes or so. We all focused on missionary work, of course, and it was a wonderful program. Thanks to everyone who supported me this weekend!


I really wanted to speak first so I could make the joke about this being a “Long” Sacrament meeting...but according to the Official Church Handbook Of Whatever It Is, you’re supposed to save the best for last!
For anyone who doesn’t know already, I’m Larry and Tracey Long’s daughter, Brittany. I just graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in English, and last year I received a call to serve in the Japan Tokyo mission. I’ll be going to the Provo Missionary Training Center for ten weeks to learn how to teach in Japanese, and I don’t leave for the MTC until February 8th, so if you see me in the grocery store or something between now and then, don’t worry—I’m still going!
I wasn’t sure at first what I wanted to speak about today, so I asked my mum, and she said I should explain a bit about why I want to serve a mission. It’s a fair question, especially when asked by people who aren’t members of the LDS church, so I have three reasons to share.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Farewell date

Hi friends and family,

My unofficial missionary farewell will be held Sunday January 22, 2012 during the 9:00am meeting. The Hacienda Heights ward meets in the chapel on Hacienda between Torrey Pines and Jones. Here's a map:

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
6325 West Hacienda Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89113
(702) 933-0210



There will be some sort of luncheon at the Longs' house after the block of meetings. See you January 22nd!