Monday, May 27th, 2013

Yo whats ups Family!!

 

So far I've had a pretty good day.  I woke up, did some study about Family History and how to incorporate that into our dendo.  Then we went over to the stake center and played basketball with Kohji and some of the Elders.  Then we went out for a zone p-day at a bowling alley.  I averaged about 115, not too bad.  My companion, Elder Lee, was the worst bowler ever the first game.  But then something clicked and he bowled a strike like every other frame.  No joke, went from being the worst bowler to the very best in like 5 minutes.  We ended up winning and being the companionship with the highest score. Team Landall brought home the Gold!!!!  Then we did some grocery shopping, found a good deal on some oreos, score.  Enjoyed some oreos and milk for lunch, and am now getting ready to go to a yaki niku date with our 70 year old awesome investigator named Yoshiki.  He is progressing slowly but surely and today he wants to say thank you for all of the help we give him by stuffing us with grilled meat.  :)

 

Also, yesterday night, one of our other 70 year old investigators invited us over for a Sunday night dinner.  His name is Chonan.  He knows how much Americans like meat so he grilled us up some steaks that were like the size of a steering wheel, haha.  We had a wonderful gospel discussion with him while he was getting hammered on some fancy scotch whiskey (he's really lonely and although he knows the word of wisdom, he still insisted on him drinkin).  He has a hard time changing and trying new things, like Christianity, but he knows we have nothing but the best intentions for him.  Maybe someday he will have a softening of his heart and join the church. 

 

Our investigator Lhea is doing wonderful.  We had a few fantastic lessons with her and she is looking very good for getting baptized this next weekend.  Her only problem so far has been stopping coffee.  We had Naoki come over from Matsudo and joint for her word of wisdom lesson and he did such a good job.  He was such a little missionary, bearing his personal conversion experience and how he was able to quit coffee.  I was so proud of him :) He also taught her about priesthood blessings and how much they have helped him overcome his problems.  She asked for a priesthood blessing and I was able to give her one.  She has been struggling her whole life with her relationship with her father and she came to us in our last lessons saying that she read in 3 Nephi that Christ has commanded us to forgive all men and she said that she is trying to forgive her father so that she can be freed of that burden.  She told us that she has contacted him and is trying to get him to listen to her.  We are planning on teaching her about the temple and eternal families soon so that she can make that her goal with her family.  It truly is such a blessing to be working with her.  I'll have more pictures and stuff to send to you next week so be ready!!!

 

This week, we had 3 lessons in a row with investigators where they were moved to tears by the spirit that was in the lesson.  It was a combination of having some awesome members at the lessons and that the people that we are working with right now are humble and are truly looking to change their lives.  We have about 15 solid investigators and we found a few new ones this past week that are in dire straits and really looking to change themselves. 

 

Every day is fun working with Elder Lee.  We have really been focusing on teaching people about God and getting them to have a solid testimony of Him and His attributes.  We have found a good combination of scriptures to do this.  We use Moses 7:28-32 to show people that God created us all and that He loves us and weeps with us when we have sorrow and pain.  Then we use D&C122:7 where God tells Joseph Smith that all of the trials in our lives are for our benefit and growth .  This really helps people see that the purpose of this life is to grow and that unless God gives us hard times, we are unable to reach our fullest potential.  I can truly feel that when we focus our teaching and testimonies on the fundamental principles of Deity and our relation to Him, the spirit is stronger in the lessons.  When in doubt, teach about God. 

 

Everything is going our way here in Kawagoe.  We teach on average two lessons per day, our English class has exploded and we went from about 15 students per week to about 28-30, and from that we have been getting a lot of new investigators.  The ward is participating in our lessons on a daily basis, many of our investigators are meeting regularly, we will have a baptism soon, Elder Lee and I just keep getting closer and closer, the rice fields by our house are producing a pretty good crop this year, the weather is about 72 degrees every day with little rain, and I can feel the love of God on a daily basis.  It is a good time to be a missionary.   Ganbaro Japan!!!!!!!

 

I've got to get going now, but good luck with your choir and games boys!!!  Only a few more weeks left of school!!! 

Dad, it's no coincidence that basically the ONLY thing you can find in Vegas are things that are against the commandments of God [except our awesome family there].  Satan's got to have a home base somewhere.  At least it's in the desert. 

 

Have a wonderful week my dear Mother.  Remember who you are and make good choices!!!!!!!!! ;)

 

I love you all!!

 

愛

 

クランダル長老

Monday, May 20th, 2013

Konnichiha!!!!

 

It looks like everyone is keeping super busy as always.  Life is never gonna slow down is it? Well, it sure isn't slowing down here.  In fact, we have lessons scheduled for every night this next week with various people!  So far we have over 7 lessons scheduled!  We are going to be all over the place helping out a lot of good people. 

 

I don't know if you remember what I told you about over Skype about our new investigator Lhea, but she is doing fantastic and is looking to get baptized on the 2nd of June.  She is 40 years old, a mother of two kids that live back in the Philippines, has lived on and off in Japan for the past 15 years so she is pretty good at Japanese, and is living with an active ward member by the name of Sister Matsui.  The left side of Lhea's body is paralyzed from a severe stroke she had when she was 26 years old.  She can't use most of her left arm, she has a bad limp when she walks, but has been able to regain movement in her face and neck so she can talk fine and can now flex and stretch and perform most all normal house functions.  Lhea got the stroke from over excessive use of alcohol and not having enough oxygen in her blood to keep a good flow in her brain which caused it to malfunction and she had a stroke.  She has lived a very very poor life and has dealt with the tragic death of both her parents when she was a teenager.  She had to care for all of her family by herself while she was a teenager and young adult so when she had her stroke and became handicapped, she saw it as a punishment from God for neglecting her family and thinking only of her wants and pleasure.  She has since been married and has two elementary school age children that live with her extended family back home.  The member lady that she lives with has been an amazing example to her and has cared for her for a very long time.  They are like sisters and Lhea wants nothing more than to be spiritual sisters with her as well.  In fact, when we showed up to their house for the first lessons, before we had even started teaching, Lhea was telling us that she really wants to join the church and that she will come to church every week and was asking us how to join the church.  We have no trouble with her desires as far as teaching her goes.  However, we have to be careful that she understands all of the fundamental principles before she gets baptized.  Princess Lhea isn't the best at English or Japanese so we have to explain things very very slow and simple for her.  But she truly is an angel and it is a huge blessing to be working with her.  We are going to teach her the second half of the plan of salvation tonight and then tie that into the doctrine of Christ and why repentance is important in this life.  This is the first time that Elder Lee has worked with a kinjin, Golden Investigator, and so he is off the wallz excited about everything.  This will the first investigator he has had get baptized. 

 

We went through a lot of interesting things this past week.  Our Zone set a mission record, we were the first zone where every area found at least 2 new investigators in one week.  I found this way nice high school kid in the middle of Kawagoe city who wanted me to teach him about Christianity (this is extremely rare, I was so excited).  He said that he had read a lot of stuff online and wants to have a chance to hear it from professionals.  He says that other kids make fun of him for believing in God, but he says that he knows that He is out there.  He very humbly and quietly asked me, in the middle of a very crowded train station with a million people bustling by, if I thought it was cool to believe in God.  I grabbed that kid and gave him a big shoulder hug (he is quite a bit smaller than me, well, everyone is smaller than me) and told him that he was cool for believing in God.  I testified to him that believing in God is the coolest thing he could ever do. Then I testified to him that I believe in God too.    His name is Yu.  I can tell he isn't really a popular kid, he is kinda nerdy,  but he is the coolest kid I've met in a long time.  He reminded me a lot of Teppei, the guy back in Yachiyo.  I don't know what happened to Teppei, but one of my friends transferred into Yachiyo recently and he says that Ninoska's brothers are going to get baptized!  And that she will follow them not long after :) :)

 

Also, Naoki Morita, the kid we baptized in Matsudo, his mom got baptized in Matsudo this last Sunday :) :) And Naoki is going to come out here on Thursday and help us teach Lhea. 

 

Our district right now is on fire.  We have some of the best missionaries in all of Japan here in Saitama and we are looking to break a lot of mission records this transfer.  Not only with new investigators, but President has bumped up our goal with lessons from 15 a week to 20, which may seem pretty tough, but the Matsudo Elders last week taught 31 lessons.  Elder Anderson and I spent 6 weeks pouring gasoline on that area so that they could come in and light that place on fire.  We want to be the first district to all get over 20 lessons in one week. 

 

I gots to get going now, but man, Connor looked like such a stud in those pics from his play.  We all know that he was the chosen one, the one destined to be the coolest out of all of us. ;)  Not to mention Kyle looking fly in that prom pic!  My boyz are growing up too dang fast.  I remember when we would smack each other with foam noodles all day and then take down the droid army on the xbox by night.  Now, my brothers are smacking life with the foam noodles of awesomeness and I am trying to take down the robotic overworked Japanese army! 

 

I heard a great quote by Elder Faust the other day that I want to share with you.  It applies to being busy and fulfilling responsibilities.  It says," Satan selects his disciples when they are idol.  Jesus selected his disciples when they were busy at their work, either mending their nets or casting them into the sea".  Don't ever assume that the Lord only calls people to serve Him when they are not busy, the Lord WILL call you while you are at work.  

Good Luck! :)

 

I love you all so very very much!!!!  Enjoy the weather there!  It's hot and rainy here :)

 

愛しているよ！！！！

 

Elder Crandall

 

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Okay Mummy!  Here is the plan. Both Elder Lee and I are staying one more transfer together here so we will be able to Skype you Monday morning my time.  Let's shoot for Monday morning at like 10:00 am my time.  This is Sunday at 6:00 pm for you :)

Happy Mothers Day!!! 

Elder Crandall

Note from Elder Crandall's Mommy:

Twice each year that a missionary is serving for our church, the family of the missionary gets to call and talk (sometimes Skype) with that missionary!  Christmas and Mother's Day are the two times each year that we can do that.  We are so thankful that Elder Crandall is in a mission with Skype technology available to him so we can actually see him while we are talking with him!!  The pictures below are a little fuzzy as our connection was fuzzy at times, but nonetheless, it was amazing to see him and hear his voice!  He is doing great and loves being a missionary and sharing the Gospel message with the people in Japan!  He likes to tease us and speak in Japanese so we don't understand what he is saying, but we love it!  Elder Crandall is thankful for the love and support from so many family and friends!  We are too! 

Love,

Craig & Mauri

  

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

CONNOR!!!!!! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TANJOUBI OMEDETOGOZAIMASU!!!  TEENAGER NI NARIMASHITA NE!!!!!!!!! YOKKATTA!!!!!

 

Man, it has been a weird week for sure.  I am officially over the hill now.  It's all a count down from here on out.  I can't become home sick anymore, I can only become trunky, haha.  But I'm doing fine nonetheless, not trunky at all.  Everything is just one massive blur and it still feels like it was yesterday when I started the mission. 

 

A lot of my good friends on the mission are leaving for home right now.  My last companion, Elder Anderson, and I got together with Naoki in Matsudo for a bye bye lunch at a sushi restaurant.  He is going home this week.  It was way fun being back in good old Matsudo with Elder Anderson, it felt like I had just been on a 6 week split, like I had never moved out ya know. 

 

This past week was a Major holiday in Japan, called Golden Week.  It's just a string of very unimportant holidays like Independence day, green day, children's day, etc. etc., and most everyone went back to their home town and got drunk for like a week, haha.  So we did a lot of finding, not a whole lot of teaching this week.  We found an old investigator along a river that runs by our house named Shalesh and he is from Fiji.  He called out to us and asked us if he could come to church and we said absolutely he could come to church this week.  He was way drunk when we met him, but he ended up coming to church on Sunday and we had a great time with him, haha.  He is a professional artist and makes murals and such for non profit organizations.  Way cool guy when he isn't wasted, haha. 

 

Thank you, mom, for the story/question about the temple.  To answer your questions, I should tell you what I did today :)   I woke up at 5:40 and went to the Temple :)   We got lost half way there 'cause we had to navigate an unfamiliar route through the busiest train intersection in the world, but we made the second session of all missionaries in the temple.  We get to go once every 6 weeks and all the missionaries in the mission go.  In the future, when the mission splits, we will only get to go once every two transfers.  We go on Tuesday so our p-day switches from Monday to Tuesday on temple day so that is why my emails are always switching what time they come, haha. 

 

I feel really really weird about how this next week is going to go.  So far, it's been a great week and we have even found a new investigator guy that is interested in the church.  But I feel like I have not been able to settle into this area.  I still feel like I am disconnected in some way.  I love the members here and I love the investigators, but I haven't been able to grab this area by the horns and make it mine yet.  Especially when it comes to the investigators that are doing really well.  Kohji and Emi have come a long way and are looking pretty solid to get baptized some time in the future.  We need to focus their progression back on that baptism goal or else they will become eternal investigators who never take the plunge into eternal life.  I'm not sure when they will get baptized, maybe by the end of the month, but I have the strangest feeling that because I didn't grab hold of them and push well enough towards baptism for them, I am going to get transferred out before I see them baptized.  I don't really know what I am saying at all though, haha.  I guess, if this week goes really really well and everyone can meet and we set a bunch of baptism dates and everyone is progressing and we see tons of miracles, then I am going to get transferred out on Monday, is my guess, hahaha.  

 

I was soooooo excited when I heard that Brayden Richards got called to Japan :)  I sent him an email already but I'm still flipping out, I am so excited.  Japanese brothers!!!!!

 

I gotta go dendo now, but I love you all and I wish you all the best of luck in your upcoming tests and plays and performances and everything that is going on back home :) otsukaresamadesu (cheers for good work)

 

I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take care!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Elder Crandall

Monday, April 29th, 2013

Helllo everybody!!!!

Well, as of Thursday here, I will have hit my 1 year mark as a missionary!!!...... dang.... But all it seems to be is just words.  I don't really feel like it's been any more than a year or less than a year, it just feels like I've always been a missionary, haha.  But this next year is going to fly by so crazily fast, I don't even know.  All I can do is ganbaru wherever I may be and live every day to the fullest.  Lets go dendo!!!!

We had a fantastic miracle this last week with one of our investigators named Emi.  She is 52 years old (looks like she is 30, like no joke) and is going back to school for a psychology degree, has a strong belief in God and the church, but has a problem with coffee. :/  She approached us after our English class (which she attends and is way good at English) and said that she had a crazy experience the other day while she was praying and wanted to share it with us. So we set up a time to meet for the next day and met up with her and a wonderful member named Hiroaki (he was the first Japanese member to serve a mission in Russia and he lived in England for 10 years).  At the start of the lesson, she told us that she had gone to one of her psychology classes where it was an open forum discussion and she got in a heated debate with an annoying student on one of the topics.  She felt bad about how the debate had turned out, she got pretty mad, so she went home and offered up the desires of her heart unto the Lord and asked for the ability to have more patience and be more kind to this student.  She said that while she was praying, an indescribable warm feeling came over her and she started crying.  She said that she felt the true love of God and had never experienced that kind of peace and all encompassing love before.  She was very surprised at the whole experience, but knew that it was of God and was way excited to share it with us.  We were able to teach her more fully about the spirit that lesson and showed her that because of her sincere desire to change and grow, God answered her prayer in a beautiful way, through the holy promptings of the spirit.  We then showed her Moroni 10:3-5 and how the spirit will confirm gospel truths to her as well.  We then asked her if she thought the BOM was true.  She said yes.  Then we asked her why she thought is was true.  She said that it was because she thought it was interesting and had a lot of good wisdom and stories in it.  We told her that that is good, but not a real testimony.  She made the connection to praying about the BOM with the promptings of the spirit and how that related to a testimony herself and we then committed her to doing that this weekend.  She is soooooo close to baptism.  She is in every way converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ and is living a member life, except for the word of wisdom, haha.  However, once she is ready to commit to that, she will be baptized post haste!!!!!!   It's really weird teaching a woman who is older than mom, haha.  It's kinda weird being able to say that she is my good friend cause she could totally be mom's good friend too, haha. :)

That was the highlight of the week, but we had many other littler miracles as well.  We met this guy from Santa Barbara last night who had been looking for a church to take his family and had been eyeing our church building a little bit wanting to go inside but didn't have the courage. He is a way cool 50 year old guy who likes long boarding and is  teaching at an international school here.  He is going to come to church next week with his family. 

I made an Indonesia friend at a local Japanese class.  Elder Lee and I every Wednesday at 10 go to this Japanese class that a bunch of retired Japanese people hold in order to help teach the local foreigners Japanese. :)  We pretend like we are not that good at Japanese and so they take pity on us and think we are really cute little foreigners.  Anyway, this Indonesian lady starting coming to our English class as well and is teaching us basic Indonesian for free!!!  Terimakasih! (that means thank you)

Our Holland Bro, Kohji, is doing well and we are working hard with him on true desire and and truly believing in God.  He will get baptized soon-ish, I hope, haha. 

Elder Lee is the man!  He and I just got back from shopping at a giant mall down the line from our house.  I got some black Ferrari cologne for way cheap and now I smell like a racing car I guess, hahaha.  He and I have way too much fun.  But I'm getting the suttle feeling that one of us might transfer out of here.  There is no reason for it, we are having a lot of success and a great time, but I just get that feeling, haha.  I've got a reputation for transferring out of places fast, even though they are way successful areas, haha.  Oh well, we will just have to wait and see :)

Connor, you are the man.  You are doing way better than I ever was at that age.  We all knew you were the best out of all of us :)

Kyle, good luck with life!  お疲れ様 (cheers for good work!)

ブレンヂン (Brendin),  久しぶりだね (I have not seen you for a long time)！!！!！ 2年ははいやいですよね！ Man, two years goes by waaaaay too fast!  It's great to hear from you!  I can remember very well a few of your mission emails home and there are a few stories that have stuck with me and helped me out here in Tokyo.  Thanks for being a good example to me and to Sean.  We got to see each other in the MTC and we told each other that the day would to soon come that all 3 of us would be reunited, home, successful from our service all over the world.  But that is not this day!  I guess it's 1 year from now, but don't be counting days or anything ;)  

    　I love you man! Chou Chou!

Okay, I've got to go dendo now, but I love love love you and hope that you all have another fantastic week!!!

Love,

Elder Crandall 

ps.  HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

Hello hello everyone!

 

Well, I'm really pressed for time today 'cause of all the emails I got on my birthday, haha.  I got 25 total from just about everyone!  So I'm kinda busy writing back today.  Also, I'm not getting back to a lot of them right away , so moshiwakegozaimasen to those who I'm not writing back to 'till next week. 

 

Man, my birthday was great.  We had absolutely nothing planned that day besides eikaiwa (English class) at 7.  So I decided to take the time from 12 to 7 and just work the area over.  Talk to everyone.  Tell everyone that it is my birthday!!!  And from that, we found 1 new investigator and 5 new PI's.  Picked up a lot of numbas on my birthday.  It was way fun.  My comp had a star bucks gift card so we went and got hot chocolate.  I haven't had the time to go buy anything yet, so maybe soon I'll go to the mall or something and do present shopping.  We talked to a gazillion old people and they just told me how they wish they could be 20 again, haha.  And then at eikaiwa, everyone sang happy birthday to me.  However, at night, I got a few calls from some investigators back from the Kohoku (first area) days wishing me happy birthday which was way fun.  It was way nice talking to them now that I speak Japanese, haha.  They were way surprised, haha. 

 

Our Holland investigator is progressing really well.  We just need to solidify his desire and get some real intent in him, then he should be looking good for baptism.  We have a lot of investigators, but we are having a hard time meeting with them and setting up lessons.  Every one is being a bimster and being busy during the week and we can only teach so many lessons on the weekends.  Plus this last week was stake conference and it was too far away for anyone to go, so it was a hard weekend for scheduling for us.  But we are doing really well in the lessons that we teach and people are progressing closer and closer to baptism each week. 

 

I have to go now, but in like two weeks we are gonna skype together so get ready for that!!!!!

 

I love you all and hope everything goes smoothly this week!

Congrats Kyle on making it into the play!!  Good luck with AP English!  Connor as well, ganbatene!!!!

 

愛しているよ！(I love you!)

クランダル長老 (Crandall Elder)

Monday, April 15th, 2013

Dear Grandpa,

 

Hello Grandpa :)  Thank you so much for your email this morning!!  At church yesterday, a lot of members were asking me about you and grandma actually.  I showed them my little book of pictures and it has one of you two and they were amazed that even my grandfather was a missionary.  It was something that you never really hear about in Japan.  Also, there was a couple missionary that was serving in our mission who the Elder served in the Frankfurt Germany Mission back in the 60's and I was wondering if you knew him.  His name was Elder Galbraith.  Him and his wife returned home a month or so ago. They were way funny and very hard workers.  It's not an easy thing to get called to be a couple missionary in Japan when neither of you speak Japanese right?  Maybe I'll teach you some Japanese when I get back just in case you go on another mission and get called to Japan, haha.  I love you and I love grandma.  It gives me courage and strength when I recall on the knowledge that my direct ancestors know what I am going through as a missionary and that they accomplished what the Lord wanted them to accomplish.  I feel empowered and ready to accomplish what the Lord wants me to accomplish as well :)  Give a hug and a kiss to grandma and great grandma for me :)  Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!  I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Dear Mother,

 

My Asian friends informed me that the wall paper on my blog is Chinese and not Japanese.  Thought you ought to know :)  Also, I use my picture book like every day right, and every time they get to any picture of you, they rant and rave at how young you look and how you and Kelsie look the same age and they ask how old you are.  I usually say you're about 60 and then they freak out and are like really?????  Then I'm like, No, she's actually 35 and then they freak out some more.  I don't think anyone in Japan actually knows how old you are :)

 

Man, General Conference.  General Conference is so awesome when you are a missionary!!!!!  I felt like I was watching the super bowl, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!!  I've only got two more general conferences as a missionary though, that thought is starting to freak me out.  I loved the talks by Craig C Cardon, President Eyring, Elder Bednar, and Elder Nelson.  I think that those were my favorites for sure.  I felt like those talks especially were things that I am focusing on in my teaching and with my investigators.  I loved watching Elder Nelson's talk cause I felt like it was exactly what we heard last month when he came here.  It was a good wake up call to our ward mission leader, although I'm pretty sure he skipped the Saturday session so we will need to drop a large hint bomb on him to watch that.  You would think that people in Japan would be better at catching large waves that come their way, but we will have to give the members a lot of support to hop on it and become proactive.  Proactive in Japanese is a really interesting word cause when broken down it means the product is assured.  Or like, it is an affirmed result, it's going to get done, kinda feel to it.  But, so far, if the missionaries don't do it, it doesn't get done, is what happens in the wards.  Little by little though, members will start to fulfill their responsibilities.  

 

This week was very busy, way successful, yet way disappointing at the same time.  We had 8 people promise to come to church, but only 2 showed up so we were way bummed.  However, we were able to set up a ton of appointments with people this week which means that we will be able to make a lot of commitments and get people progressing (kinda like what Kyle was teaching about in Mission prep).  One thing that I started doing recently is in my personal study each day, I do the commitments or homework assignments that I gave people.  So that way, when I go to follow up with them about how it went or if they did it or not, I can start out by saying that I did the assignment too and tell them what I learned.  It will be way awkward for them to listen to me tell them what I learned and then have to tell me that they didn't do the commitment, right?  If for nothing else, next time, to avoid the awkwardness, they will do the commitment.  We be serious about the eternal salvation of man.  

 

I had the best Chinese food with one of our investigators on Saturday.  He invited us over to his house and he fed us beautiful Chinese chicken and gyoza (post stickers) and weird tofu and fish sausages.  He is a total family guy, actually his family will move back to Japan next month and he wants them to start hearing the lessons as well so that they can join the church.  He is such a nice guy and is already quitting alcohol and we haven't even taught the word of wisdom yet, he just knows that's not a christian thing.  His name is En.  En Ka is his full name.  We call him En San or En Chan (Chan means like little girl).  He is so funny, way American-ish in his humor. 

 

Elder Lee and I are trying really hard to unify our teaching and to figure out how to produce more successful lessons.  It seems as though the only people that get baptized in Japan are super miracle story people, like, regular people are not converted and join the church.  The reason is, and President Budge is starting to focus on this too, that we are not good enough teachers.  And we are not using the members as effective as we should in all of our interactions with the investigators.  So we are focusing on being better teachers and focusing on using the members, in some cases training the members, as effective fellow shipping tools.  We are especially relying heavily on the 3 big things that help people convert.  Personal Prayer, Prayerful Scripture Study, and keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. But even before we can teach those things, we need to figure out what people are interested in so that they can be actively engaged in everything that we teach and actually apply these principles in their life.  We probably won't find a ton of golden investigators in Japan, so it is more useful to be a good teacher than a good finder.  It has taken about 40 years on missionaries in Japan to finally come to that conclusion, but such is the way it is.  President Budge has really sparked a new age of dendo here in Japan, not only in terms of member support and activation, but with our missionary mentality.  We are full time teachers, not full time finders.  We find as a part time job.  Elder lee and I have done a lot of discussing these kinds of things and we both agree that since we are both very young missionaries and we can't speak Japanese well or teach well in Japanese, that we need to focus on our teaching skills.  We will probably grow more in this transfer than any other cause we HAVE to become great teachers or else this area will fail.    I would appreciate your prayers with our new drive to focus on becoming better teachers.  Please pray so that we can receive personal revelation that will help us increase our ability to teach, explain, and discern things pertaining to our investigators, kudasai :)

 

I wuve YOU!!!!  Have a wonderful week! I 'm gonna go get Brazilian food on my birthday at an investigators restaurant!  YA!!!

   

Elder Crandall