Easter came and went and no one seemed to notice, except the members and the missionaries. Anyways we'll get to Easter in a moment but we'll start at where I left off.
Monday night ~ So we had been running around all day and still didn't have any time to do much. So we were getting ready to do our grocery shopping when we got a call from an investigator saying he wanted to meet with us, so we were all cool and abandoned our grocery adventure and went to a place called cats cafe and met up with him, a member and two other investigators and we had a little message and a giant ice cream. It was awesome. Ridiculously big and awesome! (check it out in the pictures). My comp really loves ice cream! And that was our night. Tuesday ~ We again decided to take advantage of the fact that we have the largest eki (train station) in the mission, in our area by setting up a table and passing out cards and pamphlets to anyone who would give us the time of day. From there we went to our recent convert’s house. He is having financial troubles and we decide a lesson on living within your means would be good. So we are young guys who teach older people all the time, but we were crossing in to unknown territory with teaching about finances but we went through with it anyways. The results were mixed, as he didn't think we knew much about finances, but as missionaries living on about $300(¥30,000) a month, and we buy groceries and do all of our activities on this and then usually we have a bit left over at the end of each month. Plus I survived a year of college. So eventually he figured out that what we knew what we were talking about, but he wasn't willing to change that much. But things change slowly. Anyways, from there we went to institute and had a great time with all of the young adults preparing to go on missions. After that we rushed as fast as we could home. Wednesday ~ So we got a request for a Book of Mormon to be delivered to a house, so we decided to go a hunting and spent lots of time talking to people and knocking doors, but to no avail. It was definitely really sad. We thought we had a good chance of finding an investigator, but oh well. After that we had Eikaiwa and it is always a good time. Teaching English and helping people is way fun. But nothing to crazy happened that night. Thursday ~ We had a long planning session and after that we headed out to meet an investigator. Turned out we were a bit early, so we went to help out our recent convert again. This time we just left an Easter message and talked about Christ. After that we met with the investigator and made Indo curry together. And through out that we had a time to bear testimony. Also Elder Lehman tried to eat like the people of Nepal by eating with his hands. Kind of funny because he's really sensitive to heat. After that we had DCS (Ward Correlation Meeting) and reported our week to the ward mission leader. All was good. Friday ~ We had ZTM (Zone Training Meeting) and I got to see some friends, especially Elder Coleman, so it was a way good time. He's seeing a bit of success in his area, but he's with what I would consider to be one of the hardest companions in the mission. He's not disobedient; actually he's quite the opposite. He's obedient to the point he makes up rules to not break other rules and that makes being an effective missionary darn near impossible. But Coleman can fix it. I know that. Anyways after ZTM, we headed home and started preparing for our Eikaiwa class's movie party. So we setup the projector and DVD player and stuff. I even made the brownies I had received from my parents, but no one absolutely no one came. So we attended the seminary class down stairs and brought the brownies with us. Anyways I still have brownies and they're really good for a quick snack or even breakfast. Sad break on the Eikaiwa, but seminary was good. (You can check out pictures of my zone in the pictures section.) Saturday ~ So we decided that to lift our spirits we were going to go to the park and look at Sakura, (Cherry Blossoms) and talk to people. So off we went. On the way there we talked to a high school student and he decided he wouldn't mind learning about what we teach so he became an investigator. After that we reached the park without anything else really happening. To our surprise the Sakura haven't bloomed yet so we started asking everyone what the deal was and they told us that we were a bit early and that they would bloom with in the week. It was an awesome time. Usually as missionaries we try really hard to talk to people, but when we went to this park people just talked to us. It literally took zero effort to find people. They wanted to talk to us. It was awesome! After having fun in the park we went and had a lesson with a member and it was good. We have noticed a pattern with this member. If we visit some time during the week he comes to church so we visit quite often now days. Then we went to play basketball. Man I love it. But I realized while playing this time that people were kind of intimidated by me. I was able to score whenever I wanted and people would just give me the ball and expect me to score. So I always would try to give the ball away, but it has a way of coming back. I didn't want to be the guy no one wants to play with so I backed off. And after that it was a lot more fun. It really was a good time and these guys are growing to like us more and more and we are even getting investigators from this opportunity. I love it. If the Lord would let me play basketball all day and still be able to teach investigators and find them I definitely would, but you know there are other things that need to be done. Sunday (Easter) ~ It was a good day. I ate Reece's eggs and brownies for breakfast and then went to church. Church was good as we helped our recent convert through his interview for the priesthood and then financial help too. Then we had a good lesson in priesthood. After that we went to the park for a lesson and then we just had fun talking to people and finding people. We enjoyed our time there and then we went to meet Mark Kyoudai (Brother) to take him to our okonomiyaki (cabbage pancakes) and takoyaki (octopus dough balls) party. It was great. We ate and ate, and then ate some more. I gained a whole kilo, 2.2 lbs. After we share a spiritual message we rushed home and that was the end of the week. (Check out pictures of the party in the picture section.) So here's a little thought. It's kind of based off both of the new Easter videos put out by the Church. So here goes nothing. As I have recently read the book Jesus the Christ I learned a lot about the way Christ teaches, how he treated people, and what he went through. In the book a lot of my questions were answered about the period of time that we celebrate during Easter season. It is amazing to know that not only did Christ descend bellow all only to rise back to the point of glory, but what makes that special is that he did it for you and me. He did it to save us. This is truly something to praise and yell hallelujah! So let us follow him as he has asked us to do and rejoice as we have been saved. Love, Elder Williams 愛え ウィリアムズ長老 P.S. The videos can be found under holiday videos in your LDS Gospel library app, or on LDS.org.
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Well another week has come and gone with lots of crazy stuff, but you know let’s start from the beginning.
Monday ~ Lots of groceries, cleaning, emailing and other stuff. Later we went to the mission home for a mission FHE with the mission president and some other elders and our recent convert Fabian. It was a good time and Fabian enjoyed himself. After that we got a ride back with the mission president. And that was our night. Tuesday ~ We woke up did all the normal stuff (work out, studying, lunch) and calling people. After that we headed out to talk to people and go to institute. Not really an exciting day at all. Wednesday ~ We had weekly planning and it was killer on the energy. After that we went to a college to meet some really sweet people, and then we actually met with the President of the college to try to get permission to do a seminar at the college to teach kids about our church. We got shut down, but it was a pretty kind shut down because he's Japanese and they're just so nice. After that we had Eikaiwa (English Class). Thursday ~ This was a crazy day. We did studies and the whole shebang and then we went to an appointment near Nagoya train station. From there we headed to meet with Fabian, our recent convert, and we had a good lesson with him. While we were walking him back we actually ran into the guy we were supposed to be meeting with next and he sadly told us he couldn't meet because he got called into work, but hey it was a miracle we saw him because he had just tried to call us and we didn't answer. After that we met this cool kid who is half Filipino and says he's Christian and that he wants to meet. Way cool. After that we went to Gokiso, the other area of our district, to give a baptismal interview. Way good, and our district have killed it in the last three weeks by baptizing on all three weeks. Anyways that was our night. Friday ~ We had DTM (District Training Meeting) and that's always a good time. Then we had a meeting with an investigator. We thought he was moving along good and he had come to church and he was reading scriptures and praying, but after the lesson with him he said he wanted to stop because he needed to find a job and so he is going to take a break and start looking for a job. Really sad but maybe this separation will help him realize how the gospel helps. Anyways, after that we missed our opportunity to visit a LA (less active), so we went home and prepared some dinner and got ready for soccer with a members kid. Way fun, unfortunately the kid got hurt while playing, but I think he had fun while he played. Other than the fact, that biking in the rain sucks, we had a good day. Saturday ~ Round two for craziness. We started by meeting our investigator who happens to be a Jehovah’s Witness and had a good lesson. Next we rushed to a different park to meet the half Filipino guy from Thursday. He didn't come, but also he didn't call to tell us that he was going, so we are pretty sure he meant the next Saturday. Next we went to visit a member and his roommates and had a good lesson with all of them. After that we rushed home to get ready for what I had been looking forward to all week, basketball. So we found these guys who said we could play with them and so we went. It was awesome, 3 hours of basketball, I was in heaven. It was killer. The guys now accept us as part of their group, way killer. Best part is we are invited to come back next week. Sunday ~ Good old fashioned church. We were way tired, but it was all good. We had an investigator there and we all enjoyed our time recharging. The investigator’s name is Jeff. After church we went to visit a less active and had a good time with him. He was baptized when he was young and quickly went less active. He is so awesome and we hope to get him back to church. After that we rushed back to the church to have a role play lesson with a member and a member of the Seventy, way cool experience. It went good and we had a good time together. And that was our week. Love, Elder Williams 愛、 ウィリアムズ長老 Hello everybody. Well I'm not going to waste any time so right in to the weekly report.
Monday ~ Today was the last p-day with Mihara Choro. We went to yakiniku, all you can eat meat and other foods buffet, with a member and then we did the rest of our cleaning and other chores. So not too exciting of a p-day. Tuesday ~ We went and saw Fabian in the morning and then we headed to the Train station to get our new comps. I got my comp Elder Lehman. I also got to see my old companion and some of the other missionaries I worked with it was way awesome. Anyways, after that my new comp had just so happened to have left his bike in his other area, so we went to the mission home and got him one of the old missionary bikes. It was quite fun. After we did that, we did some shopping and stuff. From there we went to institute and had a good time there and then we had to rush from the institute to a member appointment. It was way fun. Any ways after that we were super tired but ended up talking till way late. Wednesday ~ So we didn't really didn't get much time for unpacking and really buying groceries so that was today. We also had Eikaiwa which is always good. I love it. They are so awesome. But not much else happened. Thursday ~ We went out with a less active to lunch and had good okonomiyaki. We had a good time with him. After we returned home we headed to visit Fabian but on the way we met a Nepalese guy and he took us to Indo curry and it was way awesome. After we talked and he agreed to meet again. After that we visited Fabian and it was good. From there we went to DCS and that we headed home. Friday ~ We did weekly planning and that takes a long time especially when you're trying to bring in a new guy and then after that we had a lesson and then we went to Gokiso to do a baptismal interview. And that was our day. Sorry kind of boring. Saturday ~ We had a fun day. First we went to Kyūban Danchi and checked up on some people. Then we went and visited a less active and his roommates. And a couple actually listened to us and said it would be ok if we came and talked with them. From there we rushed to another less active but he told us that we came at a bad time so we headed out to buy some stuff to prepare for the potluck after church the next day. And on the way there I talked to some guys who were about to go play basketball and they told me that we could come next week and we were so down. Anyways, after we blew our budget buying food we went home and made Oreo balls. Sunday ~ Had a good sacrament and then I taught Sunday school and then after all of that we had the potluck, needless to say the 61 Oreo balls that we made were devoured. Yeah. Japanese people and my Oreo balls equal smiles. Anyways after all of that we went and visited a less active and had an awesome time. But then we got rained on, while headed home. Anyways, it was way fun. Well I got nothing for a spiritual thought except for always be ready for change because sometimes change is really good and if it isn't than you can learn from it. Elder Williams ウィリアムズ L老 So this week was crazy hectic and all over the place, but you know it's all good. But I'll start from Last week and work my way back.
Monday ~ P-day was fun, then we went and visited Fabian who would receive baptism in a week. He was good and we were just there to help him feel good. Tuesday ~ So upon the request of Fabian we went and visited again and then we went to lunch. From there we went to try to find an investigator's home, and we are pretty sure we ended up leaving area. We didn't find the guy, but it's all good. We then went home ate a little and headed to help the mission prep class at the Institute. And that was our night. Wednesday ~ We went to Yokkaichi for Kokan (exchanges). I brought back Elder John and we had a fun time. We visited some investigators and a less active name Takagi and had a good time with him and his birds. After the visit he tried to give us ¥3000($30) for food, but we can't accept money, so that was fun. After that, we had Eikaiwa. I really love Eikaiwa. We split in to two classes again and at the end we played the ABC game. So to play the game you divide into two teams. Then on the board is written the alphabet. Each team starts from opposite ends and works their way towards the other side. Once the teams meet in the middle they play Rock Paper Scissors and the loser has to erase their team’s words. Then they start writing again. And the game continues until one team makes it to the end of the alphabet or when you run out of time, the second one is what usually, if not always, happens. I have never seen a true win. After that we went home. Thursday ~ Well the Kokan (exchanges) was supposed to end in the afternoon, but the other elders were like 3+hours late. While we were waiting, the other elders, that were coming to give the baptismal interview, came and so we had lunch and then did Fabian’s baptismal interview. Fabian passed and was cleared for baptism. It was way cool. Then like around 4 o'clock the elders finally showed up and that gave us enough time to go home eat make a progress record and then go to DCS (Ward Mission Correlation Meeting). Not much else. Friday ~ So we had DTM (District Training Meeting) in Gokiso and I made everybody Oreo Balls, because there was a birthday and one of the sisters was going home. After that we had to go to Suzuka to get the baptismal record filled out because we forgot to do it on Thursday. Anyways, we spent a ton of time on the trains and after that we had a meeting with a part active family. The food was way good and we even went to a nearby park and played some basketball and soccer with their teenager. Way fun, but then our day was spent. Saturday ~ So we woke up and did normal stuff, but from 8 AM to about 9:30 we had transfer calls. So we did our study and stuff. And for me every time I've received a call it's been with in the first 15 minutes or so. Some people wait the whole time to not get a call, and other go the whole time only to get called within the last ten minutes. But anyways we got called and big surprise I'm staying and my comp is out. So I'll be getting another comp. Side note, my comp is a bit angry about the transfer, but that's how things go. My next comp is Elder Lehman. He is almost finished with his mission and will be done after next transfer. So I have a guaranteed 2 more transfers, or 3 more months, here in Takabata. Yep, gonna be fun. After the whole transfer freak out deal, we went to the church near the mission home for a family history fair. Way cool. After that was over we visited Fabian to help prepare him for his baptism the next day and then we headed out to clean the font. After that is was back home. Sunday ~ Woke up way early, filled up the font and then prepared for the baptism. In that time I memorized the baptismal prayer in Spanish. Fabian is of Japanese descent, but grew up in Argentina so his native language is Spanish. Then at 9 o'clock’ish we started the baptismal service and our mission president came and it was awesome. Then we went to the font and I preformed he baptism. It took me two tries, because the water was barely above my knees. We need a bigger font, but it was all good. Fabian was way cool. We then gave him the Holy Ghost in church and confirmed him a member. We then had fast and testimony meeting and it was way awesome. So during third hour our mission president gave a lesson to the whole Ward. There are some members of our ward that are either Filipino or American so one of the missionaries has to translate. Usually it's done by the sister who has been here for a year but she was occupied so it was my turn. Let's just say it was interesting they obviously didn't get a word for word translation, but it was for the most part correct. After that, one of them had an interview with the bishop, and because I did such a good job apparently they asked me to translate the interview. That was fun. Anyways, after that Mihara Choro had to pack so we went home. After a while, he was tired of packing, so we went and visited the bishop and got him to sign the baptismal form, so that all of the paper work was taken care of. Other than that, not much else. So here's my little spiritual note for the week. I was asked by a friend what my focus in studying has been recently. So I reflected a bit and I came up with the following answer. So recently my focus has been teaching more like Jesus. I have been reading from Jesus the Christ and trying to learn his ways of teaching. Talmage shows that Jesus taught in two distinct forms. In the first part of his ministry he was very upfront with his teaching. He was very deliberate in teaching. Just look at the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stated the doctrine and said here it is. Then after people started to complain that what he taught was hard, he taught in parables, using examples. Through parables, the people who really wanted to understand learned, and those who were just kind of there, just heard a story. One of Christ's big sayings was "He who has ears let him hear." Or this can be taken as “listen and you will learn, but you need to truly listen to understand”. My focus has been focusing on teaching like Christ, using either method. Sometimes people can just take the doctrine and love it. Other times they need to be taught through examples and stories. That’s all folks. Talk again next week. Love, Elder Williams 愛、 ウィリアムズ長老 |
MissionCalled to Serve in the Japan Nagoya Mission.. Archives
July 2017
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