Shall we begin the week; it was way crazy and way hectic so let's begin.
Monday ~ We had a lesson with some of our investigators and it was awesome. After that Elder Pollister had to end up running home because his bike tire popped and I practically rode his bike home. All in all it was a pretty funny night. Tuesday ~ We completed a good set of companion studies. Then we went out and had a good time with our recent convert Fabian. Than we dropped off some candy to a family who had a birthday and then we rushed to an appointment with a new investigator. He's way awesome and he accepted the invitation to be baptized really quickly. It was really refreshing to see a Nihonjin (Japanese person) so receptive. Well that was that day in the books. Wednesday ~ So all of our plans got over really quickly and we ended up heading way out far in our area to meet with a LA (less active). Than we rushed back to an appointment that we had forgotten about and did a pretty decent job with him and set a next appointment and a baptismal date. We then had Eikaiwa (English conversation class) that night which is always fun. Thursday ~ We had DKK. And that takes a lot of time. Then with the rest of our time we went out to a college to talk to people and see if we could get some young investigators. It worked and we then talked to a preacher of another faith and he said he wouldn't mind hearing our message. It was a really interesting way to end the night. Friday ~ We had DTM (district training meeting) and then I headed out on a Kokan (exchange) to Yokkaichi. It was my first time out of Nagoya city in 5 months. It was really refreshing. Yokkaichi had a Fukuroi feel to it and I loved it. We had a member appointment and then an appointment with one of their investigators. Then we had fun in a four elder apartment. Saturday ~ Ended the Kokan (exchange) and then had people cancel their lesson. So we cleaned the font and taught some other people that night and then went to basketball. Not a good night for me. Way to stressed about the next day. Sunday ~ So we went to the church early to fill up the font, and that takes time. And then we were waiting and Jeff showed up literally at nine o'clock. So we started a bit late but it was a good baptism service. Then we had church and we then proceeded to go home and make dinner and while eating dinner we got an investigator through the phone. After that we proceeded to go out talking to people. And found one of our investigators friends and we made him investigator. Anyways, sorry for the short recap, that's all for this week. Elder Williams ウィリアムズ長老
0 Comments
“Here I go again on my own. Goin’ down the only road I've ever known”. Anyway, this week was crazy. Lots of things happened and then they just kept happening. So we will begin back on Monday.
Monday May 9th ~ So to start this day I got to skype with my family. It was way nice to see everyone and here everyone's voices. After that we got one of the Elders all packed up and ready to go and he was set to head home. He then surprised me as he had the person who was picking him up to go to the mission home bring me a cake for my birthday. So yeah also on this day I turned 20. After that I went out to lunch for my birthday and it was way good. It was one of my favorite restaurants and it has some of my favorite food. It was an Indonesian Curry restaurant. And I ordered one of their special drinks called a Mango Lassi. I have no idea how to describe it so if you ever come to Japan make sure that's something you eat even though it's not a traditional Japanese food. After that it was running around doing errands and then we went and did some apartment cleanup. But when we returned home we found that the sisters had put a bunch of balloons in our house and left some presents for my birthday. They are way nice. After that we did some planning and goal setting then I called a ton of people to set up some appointments. And that was pretty much our night. Tuesday ~ So we went and taught our recent convert and from there we decided we were going to go looking for less active members. Along the way we talked to some cool people and even found 3 people that would like to learn more, so 3 new investigators. After all of that happened we made are way home in the rain. But hey it was worth it to find all those cool people. Wednesday ~ So we were going to have a Kokan (exchange) so we decided to plan for the week. And it turned out to be a good idea, because while we were planning both of my packages for my birthday arrived and I got to open them. And after all was said and done there really wasn't anytime so we planned a cool Eikaiwa and proceeded to prep the church. Somehow all the Eikaiwa students had figured out I had my birthday and so had one of the Sisters so they all brought presents and stuff and did a whole big thing. It was way nice. And after that we went home. Thursday ~ So we had a Kokan (exchanges) and to kick it off we made a giant thing of yakisoba. And after that I got some training from the district leader and then we went out to an appointment only to realize his bike had a flat, so we got that fixed and headed to our appointment. When they didn't show up we went to a park to talk to people. While there we got invited to a barbecue and then after they loved us we had some really deep conversations. After that we did some more park-hopping only to see lots of nature and not lots of people. After all of that we made our way to a highly populated area and talked to some cool people and some not so nice people, but in the end we found another new investigator. It was way awesome. But after that we rushed home. Friday ~ We had DTM (District Training Meeting) where our district leader made us eat Nato (Japanese fermented beans). It wasn't very good and kind of spoiled my appetite for the rest of the day. Anyways, we learned some good stuff. And after that we didn't have much set so we went and talked to lots of people and met a way cool guy. He said he wants us to teach his son English and for us to teach him the gospel. We were quick to agree and later setup an appointment. But that was our night. Saturday ~ In the morning we went to help a member at their fruit stand at a festival and it was way awesome even found authentic Mexican food, like made by a guy from Mexico. After that we had some stuff fall through so we went to talk to some people and found some more cool people and then at night we met up with some of our investigators and played basketball. We then setup some time to meet not at basketball and committed two of them to come to church next Sunday. Way cool. Still not looking like I used to be but I'm not half bad at basketball anymore. I shook off most of the rust. But after that we ran home as fast as we could and I immediately started texting people to come to church and stuff like that. Sunday ~ In the morning I helped Elder Pollister finish writing a talk to give and then I spent the next hour translating church for our two English speaking investigators, which was fun. After that we taught our investigator Jeff his final lesson and then prepped him for his baptismal interview. After that we had lots to do after church. We did some home teaching I helped a member understand the scriptures better and then went to ward council. It was crazy. Then we went to a lesson where we got stood up pretty hard. We then went home and prepped some paper work for Jeff's baptismal interview that would be happening that night. Then we went to the church reviewed some stuff with Jeff while we waited for the other elders and then they gave the interview. Honestly those are some of the hardest times as a missionary. First, you are pretty sure that they are ready, but then they go in and leave you outside and you're not with them. It is so heart wrenching. You sit wondering, did I do enough, did I teach that right, are they following the commandments and then they come out and the district leader says they are clear for baptism. Then you start leaping for joy and are filled with happiness. You go from self-doubt to on top of the world in about 2 seconds. So Jeff passed and will be receiving baptism. After that we were done and ready to retire for bed. So that's the week from Nagoya, Japan. Thanks for all the love and prayers and support. Love, Elder Williams ウィリアムズ長老 This week has been fast and we find ourselves back together here on this Sunday/Monday, so let's begin.
First, Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mother’s! Monday ~ We did some rushing around for P-day and all that good stuff. After that we had a party with an investigator. And it was a way awesome time for the night. Tuesday ~ We had a Kokan (exchange) with the other elders in our area and we had a good time. We had a recent convert lesson. It was interesting because we didn't catch him the first time, but as we were walking away he rolled up in a bike and we stopped him and then had a lesson. After that we went and met an investigator and had dinner with him. After that we tried to go to institute, but no one was there as it was a holiday. We then returned home in the pouring rain. But all was good. Wednesday ~ We ended the Kokan (exchange) early and we then had a lesson with an investigator who took us out to okonomiyaki (cabbage pancakes) with his friends. It was a good time but that took most of our afternoon and then we had Eikaiwa that night. Not much else happened. Thursday ~ We had another meeting with our recent convert and then met up with an investigator and taught about the atonement. It was a good lesson, but they weren't focused. Then we rushed home on the subways. That was pretty much it. Friday ~ We had ZTM (Zone Training Meeting) and then after that wonderful time of seeing everyone we came home and realized that Elder Lehman needed to pack up. We then called the people to come pick up his stuff and they said that they could come on Saturday so Lehman started packing. That night we had our Mexican fiesta. It was awesome because we had lots of food and people there. It was really sweet. Saturday ~ More packing for Elder Lehman, and then we rushed around saying his “good byes”, From there we went to basketball where I was doing awesome until I rolled my ankle pretty hard. Not sprained but it's still sore. Anyways, we rushed home and made it in on time. Sunday ~ Elder Lehman's last Sunday where he talked though the whole sacrament meeting, 30 minutes. Then we had a meal after church with the ward for Mother's Day. It was awesome. Then we went to more “good byes”. Then we had a meal with a member for the final “good bye” for Elder Lehman and that was the week. Sorry for how short this is. Elder Williams ウィリアムズ長老 Hello everybody,
It has been another eventful week here in Japan. And it seems that days are but hours and a week goes by in a day over here. Anyways, me and my companions just spent time calculating the amount of seconds in a year and let's just say life is way shorter than we think! Anyways, on to the weekly recap. Monday ~ So it was a P-day (preparation day) filled with rushing around buying stuff and cleaning, but it was good. After all of that we went out to a members, the Satomi's, for dinner and gave a message. It was way awesome. They are so nice and he is such a good cook. But they live so far away so we couldn't do much else, but hey it was for strengthening Zion, so it was a good cause. Tuesday ~ So we had plans to go meet up with a dying elder, missionary going home, at the mission office and while we were walking on the way to the mission office we were called to do an emergency drill to just grab our emergency bag and leave, but because we were nowhere near our apartment they postponed ours until later. Anyways, also while we were walking we encountered Japan's most dangerous bug, the mountain wasp. Let's just say they are big and two stings equal death to an adult. Now usually that's not a problem because they aren't really in the city but you know every now and then you encounter a few. The best course of action is to walk around them and give them their space. My comp, Elder Lehman decided the best course of action was to smack it with his iPad, and then he smacked another one. The first flew away kind of mad. The second on the other hand was much angrier and flew right at his face. Needless to say, I used my family's ability to run and got the heck out of there. I prefer to stay on the living side of the missionary force. But after surviving that the president took all of the Elders in the mission office and us out to eat Indo curry, and it was delightful. From there we, me and Elder Pollister, while Elder Lehman went with the other elder, went home to grab some stuff. Right when I got home I got a call from the AP’s, if you remember about the emergency drill this is where it happens, telling me to grab our emergency bags and leave the apartment. It was greeeeaaaatt, load in lots of sarcasm to that. But after that was finished we went to a lesson and then institute and that was our day. Wednesday ~ So we finally got a full day of studies and then we went and did some street contacting but not to effective as it had started to rain. Once the rain picked up we went inside and did planning for the week. Yep. After that we had a good time at Eikaiwa, where one of the students brought us homemade Karage, pronounced ka dra gé, which is like breaded chicken strips. And that was our day. Thursday ~ So we had a mission conference this day and we showed up at the church in another area at 8:20 AM and then we left at around 5 PM, so it was a long day. But the food was awesome and the talks were great. The main theme was if you don't like it learn to like it. Or in other words "If you don't like it. Like it!" All in all, it was good. After we returned we had a lesson with our recent convert and then we went home, but on the way home me and Elder Lehman hopped on the subway train after an ocean of people got off and once we were on we looked around for Elder Pollister just in time to notice him on the other side of the closed doors. Anyway, we eventually met back up, but I kind of lost him for a bit, but good thing he's pretty smart and knew how to get home. After reuniting we made our way back to the apartment. Friday ~ We met with Jeff, a really awesome investigator from Kenya. We had a way spiritual lesson and from there we ate lunch and went to go contacting at a park. While on our way, we found a guy who said he was willing to meet so we set up a next appointment. Once we made it to the park it was a beautiful day, but no one was really that interested and it's not like we can force anybody to do anything. This one group of people were way nice and they adopted us into their barbecue. From there we went to soccer to play with some guys. But some new people were there and the mood was a lot more competitive, and one guy ended going to the hospital with a broken ankle, I think. But yeah not really munch else happened. Saturday ~ So we made it through all the studies and then went back to our favorite park. While there we found one investigator and tons of potential investigators and some that are coming to Eikaiwa (English Conversation Class). Yeah lots of fun. Then we had basketball and setup appointments and some said they would come. All in all, a good end to the night. Sunday ~ Fast and testimony meeting. Really fun and we had two investigators at church and it was awesome and then we had a meeting with a progressing investigator and his roommate and his wife. Way awesome. Anyways, it was an a really good week. But that's all from here. Elder Williams ウィリアムズ長老 |
MissionCalled to Serve in the Japan Nagoya Mission.. Archives
July 2017
Categories |