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