Monday, September 2, 2013

家族へ

 

神奈川ゾーンリーダになってしまいました。すごく心配していますよ。

 

My Dear Family,

 

It feel upon a day that I got a call from the Assistan'ts to the President.  They told me I had done good in Kawasaki and thanks for training two missionaries there.  They then informed me that the Lord wants me in the Kanagawa Ward as Zone Leader.  So here I am, same stake, same zone, two areas over in the Kanagawa Ward. 

 

It's really bitter sweet.  The sweet part is that my first area, Kohoku, is the adjacent ward, they use the same building and do all of the activities together, and so I have been able to see and greet a lot of my old friends.  Also, I pretty much know half of the members in Kanagawa ward already and we are getting along just famously.  My companion's name is Elder Nathaniel Terrance Hill and he is from Detroit.  He is like 6'4, way good at basketball, a way good missionary, and the funniest guy that I know.  I've been working along with him for some time now and we know each other pretty well.  He has been in the Kanagawa area for 6 transfers now as zone leader and he knows his stuff.  He is getting pretty old as a missionary, but he has never worked harder than before now.  We are in a 4 man apartment, the Kohoku Elders and us.  One of the Kohoku elders is a new missionary and so it's really weird seeing someone where I was last year and me being where all the missionary legends were.  I don't feel any different or as good of a missionary as them, but I'll do my best to be like them. 

 

I always thought being a zone leader was all fun and games, but man it is a lot of work and we are way busy.  Tomorrow we have Stake Presidency Meeting with all the stake leaders and Pres. Wada, we have 3 districts to help out and train so that means we have to travel to 3 district meetings every week, we have a bunch of new missionaries in the Zone so we will go on splits a bunch, and we have mission leadership council this week.  I have never had to do so much planning in my life!!!  But Elder Hill is a boss and knows what to do and is showing me the ropes well. 

 

We also have two sister missionaries in our ward as well.  Sister Hathaway from Denver, and Sister Matsumoto from Shizuoka.  They are both rather young missionaries, but they go way hard and are very happy and enthusiastic missionaries.  Our ward has only seen 1 baptism this year, but we have a few people right now who are close to baptism.  One of them is a man named Sasaki.  He is 71 years old, on the brink of being homeless, no money, little food, but he loves coming to church and 100% believes in God; we know- he told us like 20 times.  The ward seems to like him and he has a baptismal date in a few weeks.  The only problem we have is that he doesn't want to meet with us any other day but Sunday and we can't teach very much in one day so his progression is slower than we want.  But he is a very humble, kind person who is trying to enjoy his life and do the right thing. 

 

This last Saturday, I was able to go back up to Kawasaki and attend MASARU'S BAPTISM!!!!!!  It was a way cool experience.  Masaru felt a little bit nervous and uneasy and he was a little bit shy, but after the baptism he was way happy and running around and talking to all the people.  Marilyn and Marie gave me a bunch of farewell presents and made me promise to visit again before I go back to America.  I plan on visiting them, just letting you know. 

 

I am glad to hear that everyone over there is transitioning back into normal life well.  Connor, this school year counts the most.  It's gonna be a reflection of the rest of your years in high school.  Kyle, tough schedule, but you can handle it.  You got the Crandall genes and the Crandall Jeans だからさ. ;)  Mom, the relief society and priesthood quorums in the Kanagawa ward have really been struggling for a long time with missionary work.  The Bishop told us on Sunday that he wants the quorums and auxiliaries to focus more on every day missionaries in the weekly lessons.  Maybe they could learn from your example how to teach and how to talk about that stuff at church!!!

 

Dad, I laughed pretty hard at that missionary story, haha.  I can totally hear you saying that.  The plug is important, as little of a thing as it is.  The difference I think between Adachi and your friend is that Adachi has gained all the knowledge and intellect he can from the scriptures, but his faith is too small to act on it.  I tried really hard to commit him to baptism, but he isn't interested in acting on his knowledge for like 10 years.  He says that once he feels like he needs the salvation he will get baptized.  We taught him about exaltation and becoming like God and he said that he is fine with being in the lowest degree of the celestial kingdom.  I gave him a good talking to about what I thought about that and shared lots of scriptures with him and the last thing he committed to before I left was to pray and ask God exactly when he should be baptized.  He came to church this last Sunday and had a great time, although I wasn't there, but I have the faith that he will push aside his pride, get his answer, and I will go visit my friend's baptism in a few weeks :)

 

I love you all and could use your prayers now more than ever :)

 

Love,

 

Elder Crandall

Monday, August 26th, 2013

Dear family,

 

We had an incredible week.  I'll start off by telling you about this miracle kinjin (golden investigator) we found. 

 

There was this Eikaiwa (English class) student named Adachi and he is about 33 years old, fluent in Chinese, very humble, nice business man.  He came up to me after Eikaiwa, after everyone else had departed, and he leaned in really close to me and asked me how much it would cost him to buy a Doctrine and Covenants.  I leaned back a little and looked at him a little funny and asked why he wanted to know.  Then he told me that he had just finished reading the BOM and wanted to read the D&C and Pearl of Great Price, as well.  He asked me once again how much it would cost him.  I then looked at him square in the eyes and told him it was free!!!  I then got him a Doctrine and Covenants and started doing some standard how to begin teaching!  I found out that when he first came to Eikaiwa two months ago, Elder Call gave him a BOM.  Adachi is a convert of three years to the Protestant faith, his wife is a convert of 8 years, and he is really interested in learning everything about all religions.  He actually said this to me, I will never forget it 'cause we never hear this phrase, " 宗教のことでたくさん興味がありますよ！”って (I am really interested in religion).  We never hear that!  It's a miracle!  We asked him if he had any questions about the BOM and he said I've got too many questions about the Book of Mormon!  We asked him when we could meet to discuss those questions.  He told us that he actually just quit his job and so he can meet us any day, every day if we want.  We set up an appointment for Friday and went over to his very well kept house.  We read the intro to the BOM with him so that we could establish the basis that the Spirit is what will testify of truth and that it is his duty to pray about the BOM and the things we talk about.  He understands everything so well and has a very strong testimony all ready in the gospel and fundamental Christian beliefs.  We then turned the time over to him for his questions and he told us that in the 1 day he had the D&C, he read 100 pages of it and loved every written word.  We then talked about the priesthood, baptism, and a host of other topics and questions he had.  To sum it up quickly, he believes that the BOM is true, he said that if the BOM is a lie, then the Bible and all of Christianity is a lie!  He said that they are so complimentary that it has to be truth.  He is very active in his other church and has some responsibilities over there, so it has been hard for him to switch to coming to our church.  But he told us that he really wants to switch religions.  He served us dinner and spent the whole time pointing out all the flaws in his church and how our church is more functional and actually follows gospel teachings.  After dinner we got serious in our discussion again and gave him the baptism commitment.  He agreed that once he is able to switch religions, feels the confirmation of the spirit that it is the true church, and hears all the lessons he will get baptized.  We asked him when we could meet next, he said not 'till he finished the D&C.  We asked him when that will be and he said Tuesday.  We set up a time to meet Tuesday. :)

Just to put a cherry on top of it all, he brought a BOM to his church with him and shared it with his pastor.  His pastor had a lot of interest in it so he is currently reading the BOM as well!!!  We are going to convert the entire 20 person congregation of Protestant Christians at Musashi Kosugi station!!! 

 

Then on Sunday, before church, we were waiting for our ward missionary council to start when Elder Whiting of the Seventy, Bro. Richardson, who is the General Sunday School President, and another Japanese Area Seventy showed up to our church.  We got to hang out with them and get to know them for a while.  Exchanged some contact info and swapped some missionary stories and talked about the status of the ward.  They taught both priesthood, Sunday school, and then talked in Sacrament Meeting.  Brother Richardson did a great job of fellowshipping the 4 investigators we had come to church, and what not. 

 

That night, we went over to the mission HQ for a devotional that Bro. Richardson was giving and we got to talk to him once again afterwards with our investigators.  Then I ran into President and Sister Budge at the fireside and got to talk to them :)  They still remember me, haha.  We also got to introduce some of our investigators to President Wada who gave them some great words of encouragement. 

 

With Adachi San being able to meet like everyday, and also getting Masaru ready for his baptism this Saturday, we are looking to have a busy week!  Also, Sis. missionaries are going to move in on Thursday and we are helping get their apartment ready for them and such.  Transfer calls are tomorrow, I'm really nervous, I don't want to leave at all, but we will see what happens. 

 

I love you and hope you have a wonderful week!  Bro. Richardson talked a lot about becoming the best you can be and enjoying our roles in life.  So put some butter on your roles and go do some good in the world.  :)

 

愛をこめて

 

クランダル長老

 

Tuesday Aug. 20th, 2013

Dear Family,

Man, I am tired.  It's hot and we are getting worked over by the sun and the heat.  We have been riding the trains like nothing else going to the first ever Tokyo South Zone Conference, zone meeting, district meeting, referring investigators, going to members house's for dinner, going to the church for lessons and going to get food everyday.  We are always on the train! Through all of our train riding, we found 1 new investigator, but he lives in a different ward so we had to refer him.  The trains are fun, but it is expensive and full of sketchy pics and drunk old people, haha.  But, ya gotta love it!  Love is the motivation. 

This past week was what Japan calls Obone.  It is a massive holiday where everyone goes back to their home towns and dress up in kimono's and blow up tons of fireworks.  There was a large firework show last Saturday that we went to with some ward members and I learned some new explosive vocab words, haha.  It was really hard to meet with investigators this last week since everyone goes back to their home towns.  However, Masaru is doing well and is looking to be baptized on the 31st.  It's interesting to be working with a 10 year old boy.  He really is converting unto the Lord and changing himself in his own way, in a 10 year old way.  I think of all the experiences that I had when I was a 10 year old in the church and I am so grateful that I had a strong foundation and friends and family in the church.  It has helped me grow so much and has blessed me throughout my entire life. 

We are nearing the end of Elder Kuniyuki's training.  We are going to the honbu tomorrow to receive some training from President Wada and he has asked me to train some other trainers and new missionaries.  I'm getting pretty nervous.  This is the exact situation I was in when I was in Kawagoe and they transferred me out of there!  Transfer calls are next week and I don't know what is gonna happen.  I want to stay here and keep on working with Elder Kuniyuki, but who knows.  I'll just keep doing my thing and I will be fine. 

I am attaching some pictures and what nots.  I've got one of Masaru and Kensuke, Marilyn's kids playing around, he is way flexible!  And another picture is a drawing from Elder Kuniyuki of one of our members, it was his birthday.  One is of a train station table, the Kanji for the Noborito station means "Mexico"and "forbidden", hence Noborito station :)  One is a drawing by Elder Mitabi of all three of us before he left. 

          I hope all these pictures get to you well. 

We are going to keep calm and carry on over here.  Or rather, keep cool and carry on. The ward has begun to put a lot of trust in us and has been reaching out to us on almost a daily basis with inviting us over for dinner and what not.  They always say, "Come over for dinner!  And if you have an investigator available, invite him to come over as well!"  But in the back of our minds we think,  "We will be happy to go over to dinner.  If you have any friends or trusted people that are available invite them over as well." That is the ideal situation. 

I hope that the transition into regular life will be an easy one for you :)  It is weird to hear about school starting up again and stuff like that.  Nothing is changing for me!  It's only one more school year till I will be home.  The end is coming all too fast, and yet I feel as though I just started my mission, haha.  がんばろう日本！！！！

I love you and my prayers are always for you, even if my heart is for the people here :)

愛

クランダル長老

Drawing of a member by Elder Kuniyuki

Norborito station

The 3 amigos drawn by Elder Mitabi

Masaru and Kensuke

Tuesday, August 13th, 2013

Dear vacationing people,

 

I'm gonna have to make this letter short.  First of all, because we went to the temple this morning; we still get to go to the temple once a transfer.  And two, because I don't want you guys to spend too much time thinking about me while you are in paradise. ;)

 

This week was a good week for us.  Masaru and Yuki are preparing nicely for baptism.  We are meeting with both of them twice this next week and we are excited to continue to help them progress.  We haven't found any new solid investigators for like 3 weeks now.  We find lots of friends and talk to lots of people, but the people here are very hard hearted.  Especially in the neighborhood that we live in, it is mostly really really wealthy people that are busy with work.  Much like the wealthy Zoramites in the Book of Mormon.  The trick for us is to find those humble and prepared people, the people like Yuki.  So far, out of the dozens of people we have been talking to, no one wants to meet again to learn more.  It has been rather frustrating, however, this past week I have come to realize maybe my purpose in being here in Kawasaki. 

 

I have been reflecting and pondering on the last President's interview that I had a few weeks ago.  In that interview, President Wada told me that I have a very attractive and bright personality and that people tend to flock around me.  He told me that I needed to figure out how to use that skill or "talent" (reference to the parable) in our daily dendo and that is how we will see more success.  At the time, I reflected on this and was like yeah, I do tend to get groups of people to flock around me.  Like in Yachiyo and Kawagoe, we had a very large group of investigators and pi's (potential investigators) that we were always actively working with.  At the time, I thought that what that meant was that I needed to get a large group of friends and investigators and pi's to be constantly working with, just like in my previous areas.  But in Kawasaki, I don't think that is what the Lord intended in this case. 

 

We have been very blessed to have built a great relationship with many ward members. I've realized that instead of having tons of investigators flocking around us, we have tons of members flocking around us and helping us out.  Maybe instead of rallying up a group of investigators, the Lord wants me to rally up a strong group of members.  This might be in preparation for the next few transfers where the missionary force in Kawasaki might triple. 

 

Regarding our finding, I am doing the exact same things that worked in every other area and they just aren't working here.  This leads me to believe that the Lord wants us to be doing things differently.  Perhaps as we continue to build up a strong herd of members, we will be able to start finding more prepared people.  Perhaps the Lord wants us to fortify some walls and help man the towers on the home front before we go out to attack the world.  I am not 100% sure why we are getting the results we are in our dendo, but I feel confident that the direction Elder Kuniyuki and I need to head is building a strong force of members to assist and serve. 

 

Man, I am doing all that I can to not think about Crescent Bar.  Call some beer drinkers in the hot tub to repentance for me. 

 

がんばろにっぽん！！！！

愛愛愛していますよ！！！

 

Have a great week and talk to you next week!!!

 

Love,

Elder Crandall

Monday, August 5th, 2013

Hi Family!

So I learned that President Wada is going to break up the twins this next week :(  A few elders are going home a few weeks earlier than the end of the transfer so they need to use the extra people to fill in the vacancies.  Elder Mitabi is going to transfer down a few wards into the heart of Yokohama city :(  I am really gonna miss that guy, but at least he is still in the same zone so I will see him every once in a while.  Elder Kuniyuki and I are still gonna be tearing it up here in Kawasaki!!!

We had an awesome experience this last week with our investigators at church.  We had three people come this week.  Out of those three people, it was Yuki's first time coming to church.  He is the 260 lb. all muscle rugby player.  He is just the nicest guy in the world and he stands out way hard against all of the 120 lb. Japanese people.  All of the ward members, literally all 120 of them, came up to Yuki to shake his hand and tell him how buff he is, haha.  Usually just a few people try to talk to the investigators, but this time everyone was going out of their way to talk to him and get to know him.  We just sat back and smiled while the members did their best to fellowship him.  Usually we struggle in Japanese wards to get members to fellowship people well, usually they just say a general "hi", but don't try to exchange info and become friends.  It's just kinda Japanese culture to not do that, but this last week was totally different.  We gained a lot of trust from the ward this week. 

Last week's priesthood and relief society topic was missionary work and in Sunday school the members were challenged by their ward leaders to step it up and give referrals and dendo their friends.  We quietly sat in the back with our investigators listening, but then they called on us for some input or advice on the topic.  I responded by saying that we appreciate the ward trying to step it up and give up referrals, but honestly we don't expect any so we will go out and find people and baptize them ourselves.  I could tell that that wasn't the answer they were expecting, but I think a lot of members were impressed by that attitude. 

And then this week that is exactly what we did.  We brought Yuki to church and everyone was very surprised and impressed by the caliber of investigator he is.  We had a great lesson with him after church and he told us that he wants to and is ready to make Jesus Christ a part of his everyday life.  We then read 1Nephi 1:1 with him, helping him to see the relationship and connection that he has to Nephi and how they relate, then read Moroni 7:45 with him showing him how charity is the principle that we want him to gain as he learns more about Jesus Christ and makes Him a part of his life, then showed him how (like Nephi and his family) on his way to the promised land, namely baptism, he will learn about charity.  He told us that he really likes baptism's and understands it well, so we set a baptism date with him for September 8th!!!!  I am waaaay stoked for Yuki and he is gonna be such a powerful bearer of the priesthood. 

So there have been a few missionary dress standard changes this past week and so now we are not allowed to use backpacks as often anymore.  Therefore, this morning we went shopping for shoulder bags!!!!  I found a really nice, water proof brown bag at this giant mall that we went to.  But I had to pull out a little bit of money before I went.  Could you check to see how much I have left, Mommy?? :)  I still have enough to last me a a while so I wont have to pull any out any time soon. 

Also, I am starting to run low on contact lenses.  I have 6 more right ones and 11 more left ones.  For some reason my right always go out before the left.  I don't know, haha!  But, if you could use the same prescription that I used the last time I got my eyes done and send me like 3 packages of each, I would be eternally grateful.  Thank you for blessing me with the gift of life.  Could you also bless me with the gift of sight again??? :D  The contacts I use actually come from Japan, but I went to a contact store to look at how much they are and it was like 30 bucks for one package.  It's ssssoooooo expenseeve!!!  (I typed that in a Mexican accent) 

This day last year was the time when we baptized and confirmed Thomas. I can still remember it like it was yesterday, but I have come a looong way since then.  Who knows where I will be this time next year!!!

Have fun at Crescent Bar!!!!  I'll do my best not to think about it, but be sure to give all of our cousins and friends there my love!!!!

Don't have too much fun without me and Sean around. 

I love you!!!

クランダル長老 

Monday, July 29th, 2013

こんにちは皆さん！！！ (Hello everybody!)

 

川崎の奇跡わ多いですよ！！！！(Many miracle's in Kawasaki!)

 

Me and Elder Mitabi baptized Marilyn and Marie this last Friday!!!!  In the pictures, Marie is on the left next to me and Marilyn is on the right.  We were going for a "raising the bar" picture and I think we look pretty good. 

 

It was a great great, very simple, yet powerful baptism.  And then yesterday I confirmed them both in Sacrament Meeting.  They were both so happy and they gave great testimonies after the ordinances.  I have been utterly impressed with how much they have changed over the past two months and how much faith they have in the healing power of the atonement.  It has been a great testimony builder for me and I feel the need to act more like they do.  Their son Masaru, who is ten years old, after the baptism he came up to Marilyn and asked her why he couldn't get baptized with her and that he wants to do the same thing that he saw his mom do.  We have agreed to meet with him every week for a little while, maybe about 3 weeks, and then he will be prepared for baptism :) I am waaay excited for him!

 

The trainings have been going well.  I hope, haha!  I hope they are learning something that is, haha.  Not gonna lie, it's required a lot of patience and endurance from all of us.  The hardest part is that I have to say everything  twice.  Elder Mitabi basically only speaks Japanese, Elder Kuniyuki only speaks English, and so I have to translate all of the conversations and everything into either one of the languages.  It's great translation practice, like 24/7 language study, but man it is exhausting.  I can't tell if my Japanese is getting any better or not, but I for sure have gotten a lot better at toning down what I say in English so that it is always easy to translate in Japanese, haha.  I'm like dumbing myself down.  But Elder Kuniyuki is a good sport and is tolerating my poor English.  And Elder Mitabi is being a good sport and tolerating my bad Japanese, haha.  I taught him how to speak English like an American.  He kinda has a British accent and I'm doing my best to break that out of him.  Like, saying Amuuurika and bro at the end of his sentences.  Also, I taught him how to speak a little bit of pidgeon, like "How you stay bro?"

 

Recently, we have been switching most of our teaching focus to the Book of Mormon and helping people understand what is in the scriptures.  Because of that, we in our apartment do daily role plays and practices for teaching out of the BOM and lesson 1.  I found something really cool the other day out of 1 Nephi, chapter 1.  Most of our investigators struggle with having faith in God.  They just don't know what to believe and what to picture for God.  So we have found a way to help them gain a better idea for who God is and how we interact with him in chapter 1, verses 8-11.  Here we can help them make a personal vision for who God is and what it is like in Heaven.  I used this yesterday when teaching our investigator, Nomura, at church.  It was going good, but then he ended up falling asleep cause he had stayed up all night playing at game centers here.  Poor guy, he was exhausted all day, but he still came to all of church.  We hope to set a baptismal date with him this next week. 

 

Things are going great here!  The Yokohama Zone right now has very few investigators, not a whole lot of lessons, but basically everyone we are meeting with gets baptized and we are one of the highest baptizing zones in Japan right now!  Lets go dendo!!!

 

I love you all and have to get going!  Everyone here is getting out of school for summer break right now and it's weird for me not getting to go tubing or go to any camps or anything.  The members rarely feed us at all in Japan.  We had an Single Adult activity last night where we got fed by members and our ward mission leader is having us over for dinner cause he is stoked about all of the baptisms and success. It's about time that you guys had the missionaries over for dinner again, right??!!  And when you have them over for dinner invite some of our non members friends over as well!  And if you don't know any non members, then you need to go outside a little bit more and meet some :)

 

Have a fantastic week!  Kyle, I started working at the golf course when I was 16.  Then I quit the start of my senior year, and got a job at Costco at the end of my senior year.  Man, whether it's at home or at a job, we gots to work.  But it's nice when you are a missionary cause you don't have a job!!!  haha, I'm unemployed!!  kinda....

Connor, I can still remember the first time we gave you a bath.  :)

 

Dad, just by way of curiosity, how was your experience as a trainer?  What were some things that worked for you, or didn't work at all?  Any crazy experiences?

 

Take care, be safe, remember who you are, and make good choices!!!

 

Love,

Elder Crandall 

Elder Crandall, Marie, Marilyn, Elder Mitabi  "Raising the Bar"

Add caption

Monday, July 22nd, 2013

My dearest beloved family,

 

First of all, I need to set the scene a little bit.  It's still really hot outside and every day as we walk to and from appointments and hop on the trains, I feel like I'm going to drown in the humidity.  I'm good at swimming, but 3 years of swim and water polo can't train you for the humidity in Tokyo.  Our apartment only has one cooler and so at night, we all try to huddle in one room and as for now I'm on the futon on the floor.  Not too bad actually.  The centipede problem is virtually gone, we went "Rambo" on them one night when it rained and they all headed for the shelter of our apartment and we got most of them.  Everything was going really good this last week, not a whole lot going on Monday.  But then Tuesday rolled. 

 

Tuesday morning. We got a phone call from President Wada with our transfer calls.  I picked it up.  He cut right to the chase and told me that I am staying in Kawasaki and that I am going to be training a new missionary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Waaaaahooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I then passed the phone around to the other elders in the apartment and they got their calls and what not.  Then the phone came back to me and President Wada wanted to tell me something else.  He said, "Elder Crandall.  I had the privilege of talking to your father via email this last week.  He says you're a great young man.  I agree with him.  He also told me that I should give you a challenge.  I agree with him.  Therefore, Elder Crandall, you are going to be training TWO NEW MISSIONARIES!!!!!!!!"  And all I said was, "WHAT?!??!  Are you serious?!"  And he told me that I was to continue training Elder Kuniyuki, who is on his third week and we've lived together for those three weeks.  (FYI, Elder Kuniyuki is the brother to a kid named Sho who was in Kyle's group at Especially For Youth this summer!) 

 

So, we went to the mission home on Thursday morning with Elder Kuniyuki and picked up my fresh sickle.  His name is Elder 三田美 and he is from 沖縄.  (I totally did that on purpose, just to see if it would bug you.)  He is about 4'11, 95lbs, and the cutest little ball of fun and energy a missionary could ever have.  I'll send some pictures.  So now in Kawasaki, we have just us 3 missionaries working here and so there is a little bit more space in the apartment.  I know President Wada thinks that he is giving me a challenge with these two new Elders, but to be honest, both of them are 100% obedient, work hard until 10:30, study the language hard, and dendo like transfer 5 missionaries.  But the best part is that both of them, especially Elder 三田美, are way dang funny and we are having a super fun time.  It's been hard having to balance the study schedules and training time between appointments and such.  We have to do comp study for 2 hours each day and both of them are on the 12 week new missionary program, but at different parts of the program.  However, everything connects together and I am having some fun sharing all of my fun dendo stories and all the crazy teaching experiences and finding experiences that I have had. 

 

Marilyn and Marie are going to have their baptism interviews tomorrow!  We had a practice one yesterday and it went awesome!  They are trying so hard to repent and be forgiven of all the bad things that they have had and want to be washed clean from their mistakes and guilt. Like I mentioned before, they live in a special safe house from their abusive husbands and they have shared many of the problems that they are dealing with with us and it has opened my eyes to the reality of the cruelness of the world.  We are going to have the baptisms on Saturday after a ward party.  Pictures to come!  We also have begun teaching their son, Masaru, officially and getting him prepared to be baptized.  Possibly he will get baptized in 3 weeks or so. 

 

We had some fun yesterday and went to the Cup of Noodle museum in Yokohama City for our Zone Leader, Elder Young's, birthday.  I'm attaching some pics. 

 

I have to get going but life is going great!!!!  I love you all so much!  Be happy and safe!!! Tell Kelsie to write me or else!!

 

Love,

Elder Crandall

 

PS.  The new Elder's name is Mitabi and he is from Okinawa :)

Cup of Noodles factory

Elder Mitabi & Elder Crandall

The sleeping "situation"