Please join us Jan 2nd for an Open House to welcome Samuel Chiba home from his 2-year mission in Teresina Brazil. There will be an Open House/Welcome Home Party for Sam.
Where: Otto Residence: 1786 Los Gatos Almaden Road, San Jose, CA 95124
Help us spread the word to all of Sam's friends.
Hosted by: The Chiba/Vahamaki/Williams/DeSpain Family and the Otto Family.
Questions? Please call Janet at 408-414-7903.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Até a Pouco
Well, this is the last email I´ll be sending as a missionary. That´s weird.
This past weekend was great! We had the ward Christmas party on Friday and my district sang a special hymn. Saturday, Christmas Eve, was special. It started off talking with the family on Skype, which was way cool. I´d never done that. I was not emotional whatsoever, or I guess I was if you count smiling a lot. It was fun. Later in the afternoon, we had Raimunda´s baptism. She ended up telling her family anyway before she got baptized. It was an emotional day. She´s been looking for the truth her whole life, and finally found it. She was crying at the baptismal service. There was a special spirit there.
Later that night we had a special Christmas Eve dinner with a family of members/less active members/nonmembers. It was a nice way to end the evening.
Sunday, the bishop asked me to talk, so I gave my last talk in Portuguese and my last talk as a missionary. I got a little teared up at the end bearing my testimony. I didn´t cry, but I almost did. Also, Raimunda was confirmed a member of the church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost my the laying on of hands.
I´m really grateful for being here. It´s amazing to see lives change. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I look forward to seeing you soon. I´ll be arriving home the 1st of January 2012. I love you all. Have a great week!
-Elder Samuel H. Chiba
This past weekend was great! We had the ward Christmas party on Friday and my district sang a special hymn. Saturday, Christmas Eve, was special. It started off talking with the family on Skype, which was way cool. I´d never done that. I was not emotional whatsoever, or I guess I was if you count smiling a lot. It was fun. Later in the afternoon, we had Raimunda´s baptism. She ended up telling her family anyway before she got baptized. It was an emotional day. She´s been looking for the truth her whole life, and finally found it. She was crying at the baptismal service. There was a special spirit there.
Later that night we had a special Christmas Eve dinner with a family of members/less active members/nonmembers. It was a nice way to end the evening.
Sunday, the bishop asked me to talk, so I gave my last talk in Portuguese and my last talk as a missionary. I got a little teared up at the end bearing my testimony. I didn´t cry, but I almost did. Also, Raimunda was confirmed a member of the church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost my the laying on of hands.
I´m really grateful for being here. It´s amazing to see lives change. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I look forward to seeing you soon. I´ll be arriving home the 1st of January 2012. I love you all. Have a great week!
-Elder Samuel H. Chiba
Até a Pouco
Well, this is the last email I´ll be sending as a missionary. That´s weird.
This past weekend was great! We had the ward Christmas party on Friday and my district sang a special hymn. Saturday, Christmas Eve, was special. It started off talking with the family on Skype, which was way cool. I´d never done that. I was not emotional whatsoever, or I guess I was if you count smiling a lot. It was fun. Later in the afternoon, we had Raimunda´s baptism. She ended up telling her family anyway before she got baptized. It was an emotional day. She´s been looking for the truth her whole life, and finally found it. She was crying at the baptismal service. There was a special spirit there.
Later that night we had a special Christmas Eve dinner with a family of members/less active members/nonmembers. It was a nice way to end the evening.
Sunday, the bishop asked me to talk, so I gave my last talk in Portuguese and my last talk as a missionary. I got a little teared up at the end bearing my testimony. I didn´t cry, but I almost did. Also, Raimunda was confirmed a member of the church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost my the laying on of hands.
I´m really grateful for being here. It´s amazing to see lives change. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I look forward to seeing you soon. I´ll be arriving home the 1st of January 2012. I love you all. Have a great week!
-Elder Samuel H. Chiba
This past weekend was great! We had the ward Christmas party on Friday and my district sang a special hymn. Saturday, Christmas Eve, was special. It started off talking with the family on Skype, which was way cool. I´d never done that. I was not emotional whatsoever, or I guess I was if you count smiling a lot. It was fun. Later in the afternoon, we had Raimunda´s baptism. She ended up telling her family anyway before she got baptized. It was an emotional day. She´s been looking for the truth her whole life, and finally found it. She was crying at the baptismal service. There was a special spirit there.
Later that night we had a special Christmas Eve dinner with a family of members/less active members/nonmembers. It was a nice way to end the evening.
Sunday, the bishop asked me to talk, so I gave my last talk in Portuguese and my last talk as a missionary. I got a little teared up at the end bearing my testimony. I didn´t cry, but I almost did. Also, Raimunda was confirmed a member of the church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost my the laying on of hands.
I´m really grateful for being here. It´s amazing to see lives change. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I look forward to seeing you soon. I´ll be arriving home the 1st of January 2012. I love you all. Have a great week!
-Elder Samuel H. Chiba
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
To All the FRIENDS
Elder Chiba will be arriving in San Jose, California on New Year's Day! If you are super eager to see Sam like we are you are invited to come to church to give him a overdue hug. (The ladies have to wait until he is officially released from the position of Elder, hence why all are invited to find Sam at church.) He would love to see you there. More details will be given upon request, so call the nearest Chiba connection to you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Elder Chiba is almost home!!!
- from the mysterious loved-one behind the blog posts
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Elder Chiba is almost home!!!
- from the mysterious loved-one behind the blog posts
Meu Último Natal no Campo
This week has been great! We´re preparing a lady named Raimunda (pronunciation of 'R' in portuguese if it starts the word or if there is a 'rr' is the sound of 'h' so her name is like this Hi-moonda) I hope that makes sense to you. Anyway, she´s a very nice lady. She´s been looking for the truth her whole life and has been to a lot of churches. She had some problems smoking, but now she is smoke-free thanks to the gospel. She doesn´t want her family to know she´s getting baptized because she doesn't want there to be a lot of drama leading up to her baptism. She´s about in her 40's I think. She's very down to earth.
There are some others that we are going to invite to be baptised this Christmas. I hope they feel the true Christmas Spirit.
I´m really thankful for a loving Father in Heaven. I know He hears our prayers and He loves us whether week or strong. Even though sometimes we may feel insignificant, I know that we are important to Him. I know He loves us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself the sins and pains of the world. All who follow His gospel, have faith in Him, repent, are baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end will be saved. The great plan of happiness is only possible through Christ.
One silent and peaceful night long ago, our Savior was born so that we might live. I urge you and invite you focus less on the festivities and give a present to Him, whose birth we celebrate. Invite someone to church, serve someone who needs help, extend your hand to someone a little lonely. Merry Christmas! I´ll see you on New Years Day!!!!!!!!!!!
I love you. Have a great Christmas week!
-Elder Samuel H. Chiba
There are some others that we are going to invite to be baptised this Christmas. I hope they feel the true Christmas Spirit.
I´m really thankful for a loving Father in Heaven. I know He hears our prayers and He loves us whether week or strong. Even though sometimes we may feel insignificant, I know that we are important to Him. I know He loves us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself the sins and pains of the world. All who follow His gospel, have faith in Him, repent, are baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end will be saved. The great plan of happiness is only possible through Christ.
One silent and peaceful night long ago, our Savior was born so that we might live. I urge you and invite you focus less on the festivities and give a present to Him, whose birth we celebrate. Invite someone to church, serve someone who needs help, extend your hand to someone a little lonely. Merry Christmas! I´ll see you on New Years Day!!!!!!!!!!!
I love you. Have a great Christmas week!
-Elder Samuel H. Chiba
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Três Semanas
Well, there is a total of three weeks until I go. Time sure flies fast.
Carlindo was baptized on the 10th and confirmed on the 11th. It was nice. The members here a supportive. The sisters in the relief society made a calendar of who will bake a cake for the baptisms.
There is not too much to report from this week other than that.
I´ve been really enjoying talks by Elder Nelson recently. There has been a lot of things that I´ve been needing recently, and his talks as well as President Uchtdorf´s and President Monson´s talks have helped me out recently. I love having modern revelation and a living prophet and apostles. It´s one of the greatest blessings of living in these latter days. It´s just one more thing that strengthens my testimony of the church and the gospel, and of God´s love for us. I know it´s true. There is nothing more true in this world.
Anyway, I love you all. Have a great week!
-Elder Samuel H. Chiba
Carlindo was baptized on the 10th and confirmed on the 11th. It was nice. The members here a supportive. The sisters in the relief society made a calendar of who will bake a cake for the baptisms.
There is not too much to report from this week other than that.
I´ve been really enjoying talks by Elder Nelson recently. There has been a lot of things that I´ve been needing recently, and his talks as well as President Uchtdorf´s and President Monson´s talks have helped me out recently. I love having modern revelation and a living prophet and apostles. It´s one of the greatest blessings of living in these latter days. It´s just one more thing that strengthens my testimony of the church and the gospel, and of God´s love for us. I know it´s true. There is nothing more true in this world.
Anyway, I love you all. Have a great week!
-Elder Samuel H. Chiba
Monday, December 5, 2011
Carlindo
This past week lots of things happened. On Wednesday, I had my last Zone Conference, so I got to bare my testimony to the other elders.
On Thursday, there was a community wedding held at the church. Over a hundred couples (about 120) were legally wed at the chapel for free. The bishop asked me to sing some hymns. So, because it was a public event the mayor, 5 judges, and the local news were all there. I was a little nervous. When I sang the first hymn, my voice quivered a little, but I held through. (it didn´t help that there was a camera in my face...) The second hymn went over a lot better. Over the next few days, I found out that I was on TV on the local news! That´s the second time in my mission that I´ve appeared on TV. The first time I was singing at a Christmas event in São Luís, which was also covered by the news. So, I´ve been on tv in another country. I´m already getting famous.... (just kidding)
Sunday was fast and testimony meeting at church. Jaiane, who Elder Eberhardt and I had baptized two weeks previous, got up to bare her testimony. It was special. The previous Sunday, a man named Carlindo came to church for the first time, and Elder F. Silva and I taught him once before yesterday. He went up to bare his testimony also. We were kind of nervous because, when someone who isn´t a member of the church goes up to bare their testimony, you never know what they might say. But, Carlindo gave a nice testimony. So, that night we went to his house and invited him to be baptized, and he accepted and is excited to be baptized this Saturday.
Anyway, it´s been a nice week. I hope your first week of December has been nice too. Things are going to be picking up for everyone. Be safe, and don´t get too caught up in the comercial side of the holidays. Take some time to remember why. If material things don´t work out, don´t get upset. Try to do something for the Savior, seeing that it is His birthday. Look for opportunities to help others or invite others to come unto Christ. I know He lives, and that He suffered so that we don´t have to if we believe in Him and follow His example. The gospel is true. I love you all.
-Elder Samuel H. Chiba
On Thursday, there was a community wedding held at the church. Over a hundred couples (about 120) were legally wed at the chapel for free. The bishop asked me to sing some hymns. So, because it was a public event the mayor, 5 judges, and the local news were all there. I was a little nervous. When I sang the first hymn, my voice quivered a little, but I held through. (it didn´t help that there was a camera in my face...) The second hymn went over a lot better. Over the next few days, I found out that I was on TV on the local news! That´s the second time in my mission that I´ve appeared on TV. The first time I was singing at a Christmas event in São Luís, which was also covered by the news. So, I´ve been on tv in another country. I´m already getting famous.... (just kidding)
Sunday was fast and testimony meeting at church. Jaiane, who Elder Eberhardt and I had baptized two weeks previous, got up to bare her testimony. It was special. The previous Sunday, a man named Carlindo came to church for the first time, and Elder F. Silva and I taught him once before yesterday. He went up to bare his testimony also. We were kind of nervous because, when someone who isn´t a member of the church goes up to bare their testimony, you never know what they might say. But, Carlindo gave a nice testimony. So, that night we went to his house and invited him to be baptized, and he accepted and is excited to be baptized this Saturday.
Anyway, it´s been a nice week. I hope your first week of December has been nice too. Things are going to be picking up for everyone. Be safe, and don´t get too caught up in the comercial side of the holidays. Take some time to remember why. If material things don´t work out, don´t get upset. Try to do something for the Savior, seeing that it is His birthday. Look for opportunities to help others or invite others to come unto Christ. I know He lives, and that He suffered so that we don´t have to if we believe in Him and follow His example. The gospel is true. I love you all.
-Elder Samuel H. Chiba
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