A Christmas on Base

Today I would like to share with everyone the time I spent as a missionary on an US Air Force base in Misawa, Japan. I arrived there in October 2009 being some of the first missionaries who had proselyted there in a long time. There were many families and individuals on the base that sacrifice a lot to serve their country in the armed forces.

So as winter got closer, I started to get quite sad. The Christmas that was fast approaching was going to be my first one away from home. I was in a different country thousands of kilometres away. But I tried to push through those sad feelings and continued to work.

The weather was beginning to get bitterly cold and snow stared to fall. Life really started to slow down as travel became difficult. Us missionaries would find it hard to work as trains and busses were constantly cancelled and riding the bike is very difficult. We tried hard to share the true message of Christmas with those around us, but those that would listen to us we're quite limited.

On Christmas Eve, the missionaries were invited to share a meal with a few families. It was a lovely meal with uplifting conversation. After dinner, the children acted out the Christmas story as recorded in Luke chapter two. It really was heartwarming to participate in this family gathering on Christmas away for our own families. One thing which really touched my heart was a video call that was received by one of the mothers present that night. The call was from her husband who was waiting to board a plane which would be heading to Iraq. He had left the day before. This mother was very sad at the fact that her husband wouldn't be home for Christmas.

A different times in our lives, we are separated from the ones we love by vast distances. Sometimes this is of our own doing and sometimes through the natural flow of one's life. Being able to serve as a missionary on a military base really opened my eyes to many things. One thing I learned is that it doesn't matter what happens to me, I can always go back to my family for love, help and assistance. Also that no matter the distance I was separated from my family, I could really feel their prayers and their love.

Not only that, but I learned that the love of our friends is very important when family can be far away. In February my companion and I were pulled aside by two members of the local congregation at the base and mentioned to us that they knew someone who could really use some help. We set up an appointment to meet with this person. She was a single mum who worked in the Air Force who was finding things just a little too tough. As she listened to the gospel and applied the teachings, she was beginning to find peace. She was baptised and it was a lovely experience for everyone involved. Her story is one of success. She loves her Saviour and hopes that her son can grow within this loving environment. I still keep frequent contact with her. She has since left the military, married, and looks after her little son. If it weren't for the friends that loved and cared about her, she might not have had a chance to experience the gospel in this life. Her friends really loved her and wanted to see her happy. And that is what happened.

I hope that we all can share love with the friends around us. Especially those who might be far away from home, whether physically or emotionally. You may forge some of your everyday friendships into everlasting friendships.