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Show 7ie Extra Mile Tv 5 s A-;- Missionary Spirit Converts Friend HELSINKI, FINLAND li was already dark when Anja Miettinen left her office to catch the street car in downtown Helsinki, Finland She hurried through the nearly defected streets, her mind occupied with her work and with her part time missionary assignment. Suddenly, as if from nowhere, a young lady approached her. Do you believe in Christ? the young lady asked, offering a small The same thought passed through both girls minds. Here was an opportunity to spread the gospel. "My name is Irmeli Honkonen, I am LJuu ui utviv bvuucu juaug lady said, handing Sister Msettinen a tract. in Sister Miettinen 's apartment the two girls talked long into the night. They became good friends that evening and Irmeli left carrying a copy of the Book of Mormon and a challenge to read it. W .r. , Ar ' - a ri mw. A sgSss? Irmeli Honkonen and Anja Miettinen operate store to earn money for mission. Miettmen and bister Hammalaiue, were busy teaching the sisters. They too were converted and were baptized. We have a cousin living in Tampere, about 100 miles from Helsinki, we would like her to know about the gospel, to," the three sisters said. The. missionaries were called In Tampere and soon the lessons were started. During a visit to Helsinki the cousin was taught by the three sisters and the missionaries. With their testimonies strong in her mind, she completed the lessons and was baptized dieter Miettmen, who had filled a e mission in Denmark, kept a dose relationship with the three new convert girls. When Irmeli needed employment. Sister Mietemes made arrangments to P ..14 t r S t OUIOU SWU 0vlw OV 01V VvMd uuy coannue to work and earn for her mission. attended her baptism. My sisters wanted to be baptized that very night, because they were so impressed with the spirit and the occasion. I explained mat they had to wait there was so much they needed to learn before they wwuld be ready for baptism," Sister Honkonen said. Soon the two missionaries, Sister I am going os a mission as soon as I can. I want to go because I know it is the Lord's will and I want to teach other people, Irmeli explained. When I get back 1 will be ready to marry and have a family. The older sister, Leena, is also planning on a mission, and all three are Primary teachers and Refill Society visiting teachers. With Sister Miertinen, the ihree girls share an apartment. They share the same love of the gospel. ? think that some time my Barents will join the Church, Irmeli said. The gospel is so wonderful. full-tim- k t $ 4 s f -- t i i Japanese Women Embrace Relief Society r Continued from page 5 would not permit her to be baptized in the Church. Every week I wondered, How am I going to get to church without causing a conflict in my Sister family? Shimizu said. I had to wait two years, until 1 became an adult at the age of 29 to join the Church Turning 29 is a big event in the lives of Japanese young people. On Jan. 13, each person who has turned 20 before that date is honored. The young women dress in their formal kimonos and attend special meetings which are held in their honor. Community leaders talk give her money for tithing. She withdrew from the sewing school and used her tuition to pay tithing. She eventually found work and was called to serve as a missionary among her own people. Although many older Japanese people af reluctant to have changes come into their live, they are characterized by a certain nobility and ripect for eees desires to do what he feels Is right.' My parents objected to my going on a mission, Sister Shimizu said. "I thought they were going to disown me, hit a few days before I left, my father finally gave his consent. Before I left he , said, Do not preach from your word, but preach from your example. - . - When Sister Shimizu was a luissic- nary most of the Relief Society sisters were single. When the LDS women reach marriage age in nenmember homes, tfte family pressure seems to bftceme them and congratulate them. Its always an exciting event, but for young Junko, it was momentous. She could at last he baptized into the with Church. During this waiting period for me to become an adult, 1 continued to attend church," she said. I often had to walk for 30 or 40 minutes at night. The winters in Japan are extremely cold, but I would go to church anyway. I felt as though d freeze before J get home, but this was a tremendous learning period ler me and it was a time when I " eommuriicated with the Lord. t ,i Junko wanted to pay her tithing but felt she could not impose upon her family, whom she has displeased, to , , Sister Shimizu said.' Parents wsnt their daughter tomarry ' established college graduates who can give them prestige and financial ty. Fora long time, here were not many LDS young men & tills category, so the young women had treiawidous c4ta- des to 'overcome. Many of those who married IDS men" are now wives of '' Church leaders in Japan. Sister Shimizu said that many young stronger, t A J mediator lor the marriage, Ee helps the couole with toe wedding plans, but he has nothing to do with choosing toe marriage partner. Sister Shimizu said one of the prerequisites LDS men have for a wife is that she be a good Relief Society member. He realizes that to training she receives from it is vital, Sister Shimizu said. Husbands often ask, What have you been learning In Relief Society? The Relief Society is firmly established in Japan, and assignments, such as visiting teaching, are taken very seriously. A deposit of 20teuG is required to install a telephone, so few members are able to use this form of communication. Visiting teachers can't call a sisters home to confraa that she will be there when v they plan to visit. Visitkig teachers most often travel by feu or t&ey will walk long dtetaaees to visit the sisters. It is discouraging to find no one tome, .but fee visiting teachers are faithful in trying to make ' ' their visits, 'j gen-eraD- . 1 There are many ways in which the Relief Society helps women in Japan. In some cases, the daughter-in-lais expected to please not only her husband, but to also please his parents with her method of cooking and keeping house. people, especially Church members, are not agreeing to marriages arranged by their parents. But even in the Church, the young couple finds someone through whom the marriage arrangements are made. They may go to a branch president, bishop or another Church member and ask him to be a w One Relief Society member, Keiko Haraoka, said she was having a very difficult time cooking. I liked foods lightly seasoned, but my mother-in-law- s cooking called for highly seasoned food, she said. Cooking was almost an impossible task for me. Day after day, my husband would say that the taste wasnt right. One day, I cried. Seeing me this way, my husband bought me a cook took. I studied it and gradually I established our own home taste. Seeing my husband pleased with my cooking, I came to realize that I wasn't necessarily learning all toe skills in Relief Society, tot instead I was kerning the ways to acquire those skills. All the Relief Society's courses were training me with my mind and ability to cope with all , situations I may have to face. - y "- -A - I would like to become a charming ,, and fascinating wife and mother .and a and a. real delightful daughter-in-lawoman instead of just being a passively - . w persevering person, Sister Haraoka said. T know I can do it with toe Relief , - Society asmy teactor. WEEK ENDiNG FEBkUARYl , SB ' " both Sister Hiettinen and her companion. Sister Lika Hamalaine, met with their new contact a few days later, but before there was an opportunity to really teach the young lady, she left to attend her dimmer Bible school. We thought we had lost her, Sister Miettinen said, But, when she came vkssfBc - Kvar - ' T1sr I received many negative comments about the Mormons at school, Sister Honkonen explained. My family was strong in their church and was concerned about what I was doing. But I was 22 years old and I knew the gospel was true. I felt it, and whei I felt it, I knew I had to join. I feel my life is whole now. I have never been so happy as I have since I jollied the Chiii eh. My parents werent very happy when I decided to be baptized. Neither were my two sisters, Leena 25, and Tarja, 20, Sister Honkonen explained. But I felt such a good spirit, and I knew the Church was true, so I just had to tell my sisters about it. The sisters listened, for they had a great deal of respeev for Irmeli. She took her older sister to sacrament meeting, and then both sisters. They Why, yes, I already do, answered Sister Miettmen, at the same time noising the gold crocs hanging from the giris neck. Can you come to my home and we will talk about it? .5sw,.i sw I back, the first thing she said to us was, T know the Book of Mormon is true. She had been reading daring her school time, end she had prayed about it. She had a strong and humble spirit, and it took only a few weeks to teach and prepare her for baptism. tract u ns- 1975 . v CHURCH ?r . 13 i4 J |