Merry Christmas from Tokyo!

So, I was transferred to Tokyo!
I am serving in the Tokyo 2nd (English speaking) Ward.
Crazy!
This is where I grew up (it was called Tokyo 3rd ward then).
I was baptized here when I was 8 years old!

I didn't dream I would be assigned to this area and was a little concerned about switching over to English, but when I walked in this building and realized that this is where my testimony began, I realized that this is where God wants me at this time.
It has been so wonderful seeing so many dear friends of my family from many years ago.
The members here are having a hard time calling me Sister Orton because they still remember me as a 13 year old girl named Emily.
I spoke in Sacrament meeting and there happened to be a man visiting from Saipan (where my little brother is serving his mission). I won't see my brother for 3 years because of our missions overlapping, but it was great to see someone he knows and get news of him.
My new companion, Sister Gates, is great! We are already hard at work with some really wonderful people.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is such a blessing! It is such a beautiful thing to see how it can change lives for the better. And it is an even better thing to be able to play a small part in helping others find and learn the gospel!
I couldn't ask for anything more!
Merry Christmas!

A Miracle to be Thankful for!

I had the most wonderful experience of witnessing a miracle-

Kamimura kyodai is a member of the ward here. A couple of weeks after I was transferred here, he had a sudden heart attack. He was in a comma for about 3 days.

The doctors and family watched him closely and the wife was even asked if she wanted to pull the plug.

We didn't know any of this until about 5 days after when She asked the missionaries to come to the hospital. 

We went and we were prepared to give her a special gift. 

We sisters had been making 1000 cranes. 

We hurried and finished the 1000 cranes in the 3 hours before we had to go to the hospital. 

It was a symbol of our love and prayers for him and for the whole Kamimura family. 

1,000 cranes on a train

Sister Kamimura cried when she saw them.

When we got there she asked the Elders to give him a blessing of healing. 

Elder Meza blessed him and pronounced that he would get better and better with time! 

Over these 2 months or so the blessing has come to pass. Every week I talk with Sister Kamimura and she cries as she tells me all the details. She also said that this turned into a good experience for

the rest of the family because they have all been able to feel God's love through this. 

Today we went to visit him in the hospital. This is his last day there.

We TALKED with him! 

It was a very special experience for me to be able to see this miracle with my own eyes and

to shake hands with Kamimura kyodai. God had truly healed him. Of course, the doctors were very surprised.

Alma 26:37 

God is mindful of us all. He had healed him, had blessed each of his family members, and have given me the opportunity to see Him work His miracles. His mercy is upon all people!