The End

End (n.)

• The point in time when an action, an event, or a phenomenon ceases or is completed; the conclusion

• The outside or extreme edge or physical limit; a boundary:

• A result; an outcome.

• Something toward which one strives; a goal

• The termination of life or existence; death

• a point, line, or limitation that indicates the full extent, degree, etc., of something; limit; bounds

There are no endings. Nope. Never. 

Whenever you think you find an ending what you are really finding is a new beginning. A fresh view. A clean slate. 

There are many in this world who are constantly petitioning the existence of endings. They want you to believe that an ending signifies an unchangeable outcome. They work tirelessly to convince men that we are doomed to the consequences of endings. They give us timetables for our perfection. And when we come up short they tell us that we failed, that it's too late, and that we missed our chance. What is done is done and you can't go back and fix it. Sure you can try again in the future, but once the ending comes, there is no going back to fix it- you are doomed going forward these failures tattooed on your past. 
These people casually acknowledge beginnings... but in their opinion beginnings are rare. They come only at the start of a school year, or on January 1st, or on your birthday and you can only start again on these rare days. They say that because beginnings are rare and endings come much more often, you should fear endings. 


Well I have always been an advocate for the truth; the truth is that we experience no endings.


Bold? Maybe, but I believe this to be completely true. Even though we may not be able to go back in time and fix things ourselves once a so-called "ending" comes, those things can be fixed. There is one who can extend past those limits and those ends- He condescended below all men to make sure there were no ends. He wants you to know that a new beginning can happen every day... even several times a day. And even though there are those that tell us that we are done here or there He tells us there is more. Even past the termination of life or existence. He wants you to know that even though you think you are at an end with the action, even, or phenomenon riddled with mistakes and failures, He wants you to know that He does not see it as an end as you see it. He see it instead as a new beginning. A fresh view. A clean slate. 




"To this END was I born,
And for this cause came I into the World,
That I should bear witness unto the truth.
Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."
-John 18:37 

Dear Grandpa

Dear Grandpa Joe, 

I know it's weird I'm writing you a letter.... It never really was about the words with you. It was everything that went unsaid. You holding my hand. You smiling as you watching us eat ice cream. Driving for hours together in silence. Picking strawberries in the garden. Watching you transform something unlikely like and old stick or a ball of yarn into something beautiful. Laughing until you cried. You just sitting beside me when I was an awkward teenager and didn't really know where I belonged.... But I did know I always belonged wherever you were. I'm sorry there is no substitute for the unsaid, so words are all I can give right now.

To be completely honest, I don't want 2014 to come. If 2014 comes that means your birthday has come but you aren't getting any older. Maybe that makes you happy that we've stopped counting. I still feel it's too soon. 


I've missed you. It's been about a year since I last saw you, but I know that you have been close many times since then. Like grandma I have included a picture in your birthday letter (sorry there is no hidden money). Do you remember this New Year's Day 20 years ago? It seems like just yesterday I was 3 years old sitting on your lap and we were here laughing and smiling together. Back in those days the thought of you not being around had never even crossed my mind. As far as I was concerned every new year would be the same with birthday cake, laughter, and smiling. 


I don't think there has ever been a girl on earth who loved their grandpa more than I love you! I will forever be grateful to God that he made it possible for me to tell you myself how much I love you over the phone on Mother's Day. Did you know that I had called earlier but was interrupted so I had to call back later? It was when I called back that mom was with you and we got to say our last words to one another in this life. God knew that I needed those last few words. What a miracle!

Thank you for spending the day with me the day of your funeral instead of being at your own party. You never really did care for big crowds, but I always knew you cared for me. It's exciting that you and I get to be missionaries at the same time. I get to teach people here on earth about how families are forever and about the message that you and I both love, and you get to teach everyone who missed the message here on earth  or those who were so stubborn they needed a second chance in the spirit world. They better watch out because you don't say much, but when you do it's powerful. You and I will make a great team! I am excited for the day we are all resurrected and your body and spirit come together in their perfect form. I'm sure you can't wait to fish and walk and work like you used to.

Sometimes it still makes me sad to think of coming home in a few months and you not being there, because you were always there for the big things. That being said, I know you will be there when I come to my Heavenly home, and that is all that matters. I know you lived a life that qualified you for the best God could give... You get to live with God and your family forever! I am doing my best to live a life that qualifies me for the same and I'm bringing as many as I can with me.

I still often hear your voice in my head saying, "Eri-ka, come see gram-pa"... 

Grandpa, I'm coming! 

The Bitter Cup

I am a tender-hearted girl. I think I've always been this way. To see the pain, anguish, and trials that others have to experience weighs me down. It hurts to see them that way.  I want to take it all away.

After I graduated I worked for a few months as a family support worker. I could finally help others... especially children. I wanted to make a difference. A few weeks into this new job I found myself in a McDonald's with a 5 year old girl and her 4 day old baby sister. Their parents had not been home when we went for the visit and I was desperately trying to cheer up the little girl who was devastated that her parents were not there for the anticipated visit. I wondered how I ended up here holding someone else's new born baby... a fresh soul from heaven who had nobody but a stranger to love her. I wanted to wish it all away. These sweet little girls had a hard life ahead of them and all the odds were against them. In my sadness I felt an overwhelming feeling that these two little girls were precious to God, and He was fully aware of them and He would watch over them. I could not take away all the hardships and the trials that they would face, and already faced in the short time they had been here on earth, but my heart rejoiced that God had provided a way for all these things to be taken away, just as I had wished. I couldn't do it, but God sent His son Jesus Christ to take it all away.

Over the next couple years I was grateful for this great gift, but I still wondered why these horrible things had to happen in the first place. Yeah, of course we came to earth to be tested, to learn right from wrong, to experience joy and happiness, and to choose my path for myself.... but why did God let horrible things happen to the pure and the innocent, the righteous, and the sincere?

I'm sure I still have a few things to learn, but the last few months I have slowly been getting an answer to this question that I have prayed about, studied, pondered, and asked God about. How did He teach me? He sent a few trials- or at least allowed a few trials to come to me. Things that I didn't chose. Things that weren't a result of bad decisions on my part or sin. Trials that just come with life.

It was hard. I was trying so hard to be good and do good, but I couldn't seem to stay afloat. I wondered if God was punishing me. I wondered if He hated me. I couldn't understand it. I had to go back and study my life thoroughly and figure out what was going on.

But now I get it... and I don't ever want anyone to wish away the trials that I had to face because they are too valuable to me. I learned to much. I grew too much. I understood so much more. I can see now that I thought I could be perfect and do it all on my own. I loved my Savior Jesus Christ and that through Him I could be forgiven of my sins, but other than that, I didn't really need Him. I was a smart, strong, capable person and I could take on whatever came, all by myself.

... Until one day I realized I was like Peter walking on the water. He made it for a while on his own and his faith carried him, but then the storm picked up and the water got deep and he started to sink. I found myself sinking, and sinking fast- it was then when I realized the only thing that would save me was the Savior. I finally reached out for His hand, and He carried me. For a long time He carried me.

How lucky am I to have had the time and opportunity to take a walk with the Savior? I know that He loves me, and I love Him more than I ever have before. He healed me. He made me whole. He gave me exactly what I needed, exactly when I needed it. Because of this I KNOW. I know He Lives and He Loves ME!

My trials keep me humble and remind me that I can't do this alone, I need him. Sometimes I even find myself missing the time of those trials, because I miss being so close to the Savior. We may not understand why a lot of bad things happen either to us or those we love, but we can all rejoice that although we can't take them away, the Savior can, and He has.

Something Worth Going Viral

I believe in God. 

I lived with Him before I came to earth.

He made a plan for me to live with Him again.

I am His daughter and He loves me.

Have you ever been so excited about something that you just wanted to share it? The statement above is what I want to go viral. I know it is true and I want everyone to see it!

You have probably shared things on facebook or on the internet because they made you feel something. You wanted everyone you knew to see and not miss out on anything so funny/ touching/ important/outrageous. Well this message that I am sharing is the greatest thing I could ever share and I don't want anyone to miss it.

I invite all those who believe in God to add their belief to mine, like, comment, share, and make a statement that they believe in God and His son Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas to Me

Some of you have already seen this message, but it is my Christmas list this year. Please join me as we embark on a 6 month adventure together. I have now made a reading schedule so if you want it, leave a comment or send me a facebook message with your email and I will email it to you!

I love you all and Merry Christmas!

Hello friends and family! 

As many of your know Christmas is my favorite.... But this year instead of drinking hot cocoa, watching every made-for-TV Christmas movie and dressing up like Santa, I am spreading a really special message about the greatest gift God gave us that first Christmas night. Yes, that's right, I get to be like the angels that appeared it the shepherds to bring glad tidings of great joy to the lowliest and humblest of people!

I know I don't usually ask for anything for Christmas, but this year there is one thing that I want more than anything else (and it's not even a boyfriend). My mission has been a struggle for me, but on December 25th (Christmas Day) I hit my 6 month left mark. What a gift! I have wondered many times if I would ever get to that point. So Christmas for me is a celebration of the life and ministry of our Savior Jesus Christ, as well as a celebration of the ministry I get to continue with His name on my chest!

What I am going to ask of all of you this Christmas is that you all read the Book of Mormon with me starting December 25, 2013, and finishing on or before June 25, 2014, the day I come home. If I've done the math correctly ( and let's be real, of course I have) that is a total of 183 days. So if you read 3 pages a day you will finish 6 days early. If you read 2 chapters a day you will finish 63.5 days early. And if you want a schedule of what you need to read what days, I have one in the works. Regardless of if you finish early or if you don't even finish within the time frame, if you read every day for those 183 days with full sincerity to accept the truth you are reading, your life will change forever for the better. As a representative of Jesus Christ I can promise that You will be healed of afflictions that plague you. You will feel the love and spirit of The Lord in your life, and you will come to know even better who you are as a divine child of God and an heir to His glory. I can't imagine anything that would make me happier, or anything more powerful than all those I love reading my favorite book... The Book I love so much I would be willing to give anything, ANYTHiNG, so that just one more person can feel the happiness and peace I have found in it. It is because I love you that I want you to do this with me. I cannot deny that it is true nor that it is the word of God. If you do this with me WE WILL SEE MIRACLES!

This challenge is for all of you. Those who have read the Book of Mormon many times, those who may feel too young to take on such a complex book, those who have tried to read it but have not fully understood nor allowed themselves to feel of its spirit, those who feel their testimony is strong, or those who may feel they have no testimony at all. It is been a difficult year, but we have all been humbled and reminded of what is most important. We are all in the perfect state for God to speak to us! 

If you need a copy of the Book of Mormon let me know. If while you are reading you have any questions, please ask me, and if you want more information I can get you in contact with all the right people!

Please share this message with anyone I may have missed. Know that I love you! As does our father in heaven!

I am so excited for this!

Love Sister Takahashi 
Please share this message with anyone I may have missed. Know that I love you! As does our father in heaven!

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng

The Third Person I'll Meet in Heaven

I remember a few years ago I came across the Mitch Albom story, "The Five People You Meet In Heaven". I was immediately fascinated by how the five people he met were not necessarily the people he associated with the most. Instead they were all people that he had influenced, or who had influenced him- some of which he had never met before.

Although I'm not sure this is how heaven works, it got me thinking. What 5 people will I meet when I get to Heaven?

... Well, the first one is a no-brainer; God. The second is equally as simple; My Savior Jesus Christ. Number 3 is where things get tricky, but after a lot of thought and careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion of who it would be. The answer? The Prophet Joseph Smith. 

Now lets take a journey back in time to when I was 12 years old......

I was given an assignment from one of the leaders of my youth group to read Joseph Smith's account of the vision he saw of God the Father and His son, Jesus Christ and how he came to be a Prophet of God (Click here to read it or Click here to watch it) and then pray to know if it was true. She wanted me to share my experience the next week at church in front of all the 12-18 year old girls.   

This was a story that I had heard many times in my life, but I decided I needed to test it. I was going to read the account, and I was going to pray. So I did. 

Before I read the passage I prayed that I would know the truth. I tried to read as intently as a twelve-year-old girl can. After I finished reading I prayed again and I asked God if it was true... could this really happen?

Nothing. I didn't feel anything. No big warm feeling overcame me. No angels appeared in my room. No thoughts came to my head. No voice told me it was true. 

I was a little disappointed. I fully intended to read it and have some BIG revelation that it was true. I got nothing. What was worse was that I had to tell everyone about my experience, and I had nothing good to tell. The next few days I stressed about it and prayed about it again and again. Still nothing.

Pretty soon we were back at church and I was standing in front of all my peers, my older sisters and their friends, my mom, and many others whom I loved and respected. I was about to open my mouth and tell them how I had prayed, but in that exact moment an overwhelming feeling came over me. It was peaceful, calm, and reassuring. My mind went back to my 10th birthday when my family was in Palmyra, New York and we visited the Sacred Grove... the same place where Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. I remembered the feeling I had standing there, just 10 years old and knowing it was a special place. Then my mind jumped to the previous year (11 years old) and I read the Book of Mormon for the first time on my own, cover-to-cover. Then I had prayed to know of it's truth, and I remembered how I had an overwhelming feeling that I had always known it was true. I had never doubted the that the Book of Mormon was the word of God, and I knew that the Book of Mormon came to be by the Power of God, THROUGH the Prophet Joseph Smith. 

That was when it hit me- I didn't need a big feeling or a miraculous experience to know that it was true, because I already knew it was true. I had already done the searching and the asking before and God had freely given me an answer then... an answer that I could not deny. An answer I knew would never change. God also brought these thoughts and feelings back to my remembrance in a time when I started to again question the truth I had already found to remind me. 

Since that time I have asked a lot more questions. I have searched and studied and learned more and more about God and Prophets, and about who I am as a daughter of God and what that really means. The answers always come, although they rarely come the way we expect them to. 

You know how there are some people you just connect to when you meet them, like you have known one another forever? Well, that is the way I feel about Joseph Smith. The more I learn about him and his life and the legacy that he has left, the more I know that he and I were once great friends, and I can't wait until I get to see him again and thank him for all that he has done for me and mankind in bringing the fulness of Jesus Christ's church back to the earth. My heart breaks a little thinking of all the pain and trials that he endured because he knew this was true and how badly we needed to know it too. I am coming to know, but I want all those I love to come to know that too!

Seasons of Forgetting

I feel so blessed throughout my 23 years to learn some very important lessons that I always swore in the moment were lessons that would stay with me for life. These lessons include, but are not limited to:

• Don't procrastinate
• Trust God
• Give people the benefit of the doubt
• Be who you are!
• You are the happiest when you turn outward and serve others
• Just because you exercised for 10 minutes this morning does not mean that you should eat that whole box of donuts

 ...But for some reason a few years, or months, or sometimes even days (hours?) later I find myself in the same situation as before, learning the same lesson I swore I would never have to learn again. 

Why would a person do that? Why is it then even though we know something is just or true do we so often set it aside? Why is it that our lives are spent cycling through the same lessons over and over and over again?

My answer?

We go through seasons of forgetting. Not that we forget that it happened, or even that we forget the principle of the lesson we learned... no, I don't think it is more than that. 

What we forget is the way we felt. We forget the pain, or the joy, or the certainty of the lesson.  Learning life lessons isn't easy, and quite often not at all pleasant. There are other times where we feel something so good and powerful we can't deny the answers we receive that we can completely trust in them..... then lives goes on and we are comfortable and things are easy and we rarely reflect on those feelings. We forget they are more than just a good story, but those lessons are a part of us. 

Is it safe to say that the same is true for society? We are humbled and remember what matters when there is a hurricane, or a terrible accident, or major act of violence. In those moments we mourn, we leave behind the things that don't matter, and we all come together in greater love and concern for one another. We vow that as a society we will change and no longer focus on so many frivolous pursuits. 

... Then of course for some reason a few years, or months, or sometimes days (hours?) later we find ourselves learning the same lesson the umpteenth time. 

This is not a new thing in society- nope, it has been happening since Adam and Eve. God has helped us to learn lessons and learn what we need to do to be happy and return to Him. He sends prophets who have His power and authority to help guide us and remind us of who we are as children of God and what things we need to beware of that will draw us from him and cause us to "forget".  When the prophets come people have been humbled enough to accept the teachings and feel the spirit of truth testify that what the Prophets say are true.They were happy for a time... and then they forget. Think of the people who watched the world be flooded when on Noah's ark. I bet after 40 days in the Ark they had it impressed upon their hearts how important it was to listen to the prophet and to repent, but then we find their descendants spiritually "drowning" in the ways of the world the same way. I'm sure after the bondage they experienced and the miracles they witnessed the Children of Israel vowed they would never forget how great and merciful God was, but then just a short time later we find them worshiping idols and rejecting the warnings of the Prophet Moses. 

God  isn't going to force His children to follow him so He will take His power from the earth until we are ready for Him to send another Prophet. This Prophet has God's power and authority on earth and receives revelation straight from God to warn us of things can harm us, and they help to keep the teachings of God pure so that we can always REMEMBER what we need to do to find lasting happiness and eternal life and how badly we need to make Jesus Christ the Center of our lives. 

When Jesus Christ came he showed us the way and example himself, but as society always does, the people rejected him and his teachings and I'm sure it was with great sadness that God withdrew his power once again.

Just as God always has, God has reached out again to us in our time to help us REMEMBER and never again forget the greatest lesson there is for us to learn here on earth. We have a Savior. He reaches out the same way he always has.

God called a Prophet. 

The Formula for a (Practically) Perfect Family

Many of you have probably seen Norman Rockwell's painting of a family at Thanksgiving... but I bet you didn't know the family behind the picture-perfect family..... World, meet my best friends... ( I know it may be tempting to only look at the pictures and not read the text, but I promise that the text is even better than the pictures:).

At Temple Square (and many other LDS Temple Visitor Centers) there is a a beautiful video about a family called, "God's Plan for Families". It is a nice presentation that portrays our beliefs about families and our roles as men and women from THIS DOCUMENT. I have seen this presentation HUNDREDS of times (I could probably act it all out for you if you want) and a common comment I would hear at the end of the presentation was,

"Well that was nice, but this is too ideal... 

no one has a family this perfect..."

I would always respond that this was the goal and although we might not reach that point in this life, in the Eternities we could have families like this. 

It wasn't until I took my Grandma through the presentation just a month after my Grandpa (her husband) had passed away that it dawned on me.

This kind of family is perfectly achievable in this life.

I can say that I KNOW that because

MY family is like that!

From the document I mentioned earlier, The Family: A Proclamation to the World, I quote, 

"Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."

I have amazing parents! I'm sure they could tell you in even more detail about how to have a (practically) perfect family, but I am going to share from my perspective some of the many things they did RIGHT.

My home has always been a haven.

 I have never questioned that Mom and Dad loved one another, nor have I ever questioned that they loved me. Mom took the time to take me to violin lessons (and even practice with me daily... in addition to all my sisters) and school activities, taught me how to cook and clean, and gave us the license to be creative and use our minds, and explore. Dad took the time to teach us how to throw a football and a baseball, how to change a tire, the oil, and the brake pads in our car, how to build walls and figure out how to do things you have never done before.  

More importantly my mom taught me how to be compassionate and how to serve others willingly. How to speak kindly of others and the importance of prayer, faith, integrity, and how to trust the Lord. My Dad taught me what it means to be loved and respected as a daughter of God. He taught me to find the joy in life and what true humility and sacrifice are. 

My parents always made our family the first priority. I remember them forcing  gently encouraging all 6 of us into the car to go to another sisters concert or basketball game or talent show or whatever important event or achievement that we could show them our support at. As we grew older we learned to make things that were important to one another important to us because we loved on another. We may have murmured then, but now we pine for the opportunities to be there for one another. My sister even surprised me by making a huge sacrifice to come to my university graduation (see the picture on the left). The joy I felt in this moment was so great I finished all my finals early so I could surprise my little sister at her high school Graduation 

(see picture below).

All of these things have been important to shaping this (practically) perfect family, but I think the most important thing my parents did right was making Jesus Christ the center of our lives and our home. We gathered together as a family every night and read from the Book of Mormon and prayed together as a family. On Monday evenings we gathered together to learn about the teachings of Jesus Christ, and also to play games and enjoy our time together. On Sunday we would dress in our nicest clothes and go to church. My parents taught us values. It was important to them that we were people of integrity who were kind, loving, smart, respectful, hard workers, good examples, and who valued the important things in life like family and service and God. Doesn't mean that we always lived those things perfectly but they set the example and helped us set standards for ourselves. They wanted us to really understand who we were- divine children of God. All of these things were not taught by forcing us or punishing us, but rather through their love and example. My parents don't fight, they always work hand-in-hand with each other and with God.

In that God's Plan presentation about the families I mentioned earlier the Dad asks his young wife what the most important things they could teach their children and she answers, 

"That she is loved, that she's a child of God, and that we can be together forever!"

I consider myself lucky. I not only have a Loving Heavenly Father, but I also have a loving Earthy Father, Mother, sisters, Bro-in-laws, nieces, and nephews.... and I when I say that they are my best friends, I mean it! The hardest part about going on a mission was leaving this behind for a year and a half..... weddings, birthdays, new babies, funerals, graduations... everything! BUT I did so because my parents taught me that I am loved, that I am a child of God, and that we can be together FOREVER. I know that my family will be together forever and it is important to me that other people know that they can be with their family too. I know that a home that is centered on the teachings of Jesus Christ will produce a family that loves each other and where true happiness abides! I love my family and I feel so blessed to be with them for eternity!

God is MY Loving Heavenly Father

We are going to start with my favorite topic.... LOVE!

Ever since I was a little child I have been taught that I am a literal daughter of God and that He had a plan for me. I came to a knowledge that I lived with Him before I came here to earth, and that I chose to leave His presence there as a spirit, because I wanted what He had- Everlasting joy, knowledge, understanding, and happiness.... Who doesn't want that?

Although I knew all these things for a long time there has been a little thorn in my understanding. Although I knew that we are all children of God and He loves us and has a plan for us, I didn't believe that God loved me specifically. Sure I said it, but I didn't feel it.

I worked so hard to make Him happy, but it never seemed to be enough for Him. I always fell short. How could He love someone as undeserving as I? Not only did I think He didn't love me, I thought in a way He hated me. If I would pray for something, I thought that He would make sure that DIDN'T happen, just to spite me. I could feel that He loved everyone else, but I thought I was the exception. And if God didn't love me, who could?

And so I felt hopeless... I didn't realize it at the time, but I did. I wanted to go on a mission to prevent every one else from feeling as hopeless as I did. I worked so hard. SO HARD. I did everything I was supposed to, and yet I felt miserable.

It got to the point I couldn't work at all because I was so miserable. Others told me that the way we can show God we love Him is by keeping His commandments and giving our all to him. I was keeping the commandments, but questioned if my all was enough. I remember one day crying wondering if God knew that I loved Him because I couldn't give enough.

In a tender moment I felt the spirit testify to me that I was the "one". Christ was leaving the 99 (who I always thought I had been a part of) to come rescue me because He knew how badly I needed rescuing. He brought me on my mission so that it could just be Him and I. He wanted to spend time with me. His plea to me was to LET HIM love me. He didn't need me to do all the work and do it perfectly... all he needed was for me to need him.

So he gave me an opportunity to rely on the Savior's Atonement and realize I couldn't do it all on my own. Because He loved me He had given me a sweet gift, even the life of His son, so that even though I could never give enough, it would somehow always BE enough.

What happened next was incredible. I have never seen the Heavens open the way they did when I accepted that this gift was for me and God loved me! I realized that all those prayers I had been praying were being answered, but even more perfectly than I had ever anticipated. He brought people into my life to help heal me and testify of this love. He provided opportunities for me to heal and to grow. And the best part was He let me be an instrument to show His love to others.

Coming to the knowledge that God is MY loving Heavenly Father is the single greatest thing I could ever learn in my life. As a representative of Jesus Christ I know that He loves you too. I want so badly for you to know it and feel it. Knowing and feeling His love will change your life and make you whole. His plan for you is perfect, and you can come to know that for yourself through learning of him and praying to know if what I am sharing is true!

I testify that the love of God is real and there are no exceptions to His love. Nothing brings me more joy than sharing the message that not only is he MY loving Heavenly Father, but He is YOUR loving Heavenly Father too.

I Am A Missionary

I am a missionary. 

A true representative of Jesus Christ.

I seek to bring God's children back into His fold, and He has promised, in return, a life of true happiness. 

But being a disciple of our Savior Jesus Christ has never been easy.... If you don't believe me ask Moses or Jonah or Peter or Stephen. I don't always have the eloquence of words. I don't always have the courage to do what the Lord asks. There times when the Lord reaches out to me and I deny His gentle hand from cleaning my feet. There are times when people hate and persecute me for proclaiming what I KNOW to be true.

.... That being said, I have something else in common with these amazing men (if amazing is a strong enough word to do them justice). Yes, I am imperfect- plagued with the ills of weakness and the faults of man, but I can say with the all assurety of all my heart that I know the message that I have to share is perfect. It is of great importance. It is more valuable than anything else I have ever had or will ever posses. And it is True.

My whole life I have been taught these truths. Little by little I have been shaped and molded to become who I am now (with much refining still to come), but it has only been recently that I have come to KNOW. What I know is very close to my heart. Sometimes I am afraid to talk of it for fear of what others may say of my precious gem, but I need to share with you because I don't want you to miss what I have found. A scripture I have recently come to understand better is

2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will ^atrust, and not be afraid; for the Lord ^bJehovah is my ^cstrength and my ^dsong; he also has become my salvation.

The Lord has become MY salvation. My life has been saved. I have decided to share some personal stories of Salvation with you in hopes that as you read, even though my words can't describe it, you will be able to feel it.

I invite you to come along on this journey with me as I share my experiences and maybe we will be able to come closer to our Savior together. If you feel like something is missing for your life, if you feel unhappy, if you have ever wondered what your purpose is or if God cares about you, or if He even exists, I promise that as you read what I am sharing with an open heart you will be able to find what you are seeking and you will come to KNOW like I do.

Love Sister Takahashi