WEEK 2: Well here begins another week.
So after my email last week we had a lesson with Takano San and his family. He is prepared for baptism pretty much all he needs to do is to stop smoking cigarettes and he'll be ready. But he has a baptismal date for this month and we are going to help him make this date because he knows this church is true. Tuesday we had a Kokan or splits. We went and looked for an old man who we had talked to before and he told us that he no longer had interest in even talking to us so he sent us away. Then later that night we had a lesson with another investigator and her daughter, their names are Fumi and Yuna. They are amazing. A little hesitant to accept baptism but they'll get there. We had a good lesson with a tachiai (member present) and she really felt the spirit. Then Wednesday Elder Zhian was really sick so we stayed home and cleaned after we had picked him up from the Kokan. Thursday we woke up studied and went to FIFA again to learn more Japanese and maybe get some more investigators. Well after FIFA we picked up a frozen pizza and took it to the church to eat which isn't something we normally do, but we felt that was what we needed to do that day. And bam a miracle happens. We were sitting and talking as the pizza was cooking and a girl walks in asking about the church. It was crazy. We then proceeded with a church tour and ended giving her an hour and a half lesson about the restoration and a bit about the gospel of Christ. It was awesome. We set a baptismal date with her and we are teaching her again this week. So after that we ate lunch and then had a lesson with a recent convert. Taught another investigator and set another baptismal date. After that we had Eikaiwa (English Class) and saw Fumi and Yuna. I talked with them for a bit and we gave them both Book of Mormons but since Yuna is 11 we gave her the kids picture one and I got to quiz her on it a bit and she really had read what she said she did and she is really learning it's awesome. At Eikiwa we introduced our students to chocolate chip cookies. Some thought they were too sweet but for the most part everyone loved the cookies. Friday we had zone conference which was awesome. Than after that we had a lesson with an investigator who after the lesson let us know that he was all good and dropped us. He was more interested in how we learn Japanese so fast cuz he is a teacher at FIFA. We replied that it is a gift from God. We then did records and played Japanese volleyball with an investigator. Japanese volleyball is volleyball with 9 people and no rotations and because it was mostly women playing I was playing back-back row, but it was still fun. Saturday we met with an investigator early and he is already for baptism too but he is moving out of our area so we will let the other missionaries know he could be baptized. Then back to FIFA for more Japanese training. Then we had to go home because Elder Zhian had to finish packing before the shipping company came to get his stuff. So we cleaned and did area book. And for Elderly Zhian's last activity we had a homemade gyoza (pot stickers) party with a less active, the sisters, and a ward missionary. And that was awesome. Then Sunday came and we had church like normal cuz next Sunday is conference for us. And it was definitely interesting. Everything was normal till priesthood where we got an hour lecture on what can go in the trash cans and what we, if we use the kitchen, have to take home and throw away. After that we had a meeting to plan a Halloween party and man nothing was happening and then we got the primary president involved and wham things started happening and within 30 min the party was planned. After that we went to try to find a part member family that just moved into our branch. So after a while of me using my limited Japanese to direct our driver and my 2 trainers falling asleep in the back we found them. But the kicker is they are Brazilian and only speak Portuguese and we don't. So while Elder Coleman kept them distracted with his limited Portuguese, I called in the Calvary. The Calvary was our district leader Elder Tsuru, who if you met him you would say “what is a deacon doing on a mission?” But he's awesome and even though it was totsuzen (challenging) he helped translate for us and let this family know at we would provide a ride for them to come to church. The dad was really happy as he is the member. Well we'll see how this goes from here. But that's pretty much it from here in Fukuroi. Love, Elder Williams
0 Comments
Ok so here goes the opening chapter of my 日本 (Japan) experience.
So after an extremely led to my next plane to Nagoya. Once in Nagoya we were all treated by our APs and Ishii Kaicho (Mission President Ishii). There they took us to hombu (mission home) where we ate dinner and headed off to bed. The next morning we had breakfast and orientation and interviews with Ishii Kaicho. After that we walked to the chapel down the street from the hombu and when we entered we were greeted by all of the trainers singing an arrangement. After that one by one we all met our trainers, and of course with the last name on Williams I was the last elder to get a companion, but my companion is Elder Coleman. He's from Arizona and he's on his 6th transfer. He has also seen a lot of success so far as last transfer he had 3 baptisms. I am excited to work with him. As a bonus I get kind of a second trainer. His name is Elder Zian. His timing for leaving is weird but his mission ends next Monday. But for now he's helping both me and Elder Coleman get to know the area as he's the only one of us who has served in this area. So it's kind of a white wash. Ok so back to the story I got a new companion and then we headed to the train to ride our way back to the City of Fukuroi which is where our apartment is, but our area encompasses Fukuroi, Iwata, and Kagigawa. It's quite a large area. We are working with two sister who are Sister Sargent and Sister Stone. They take most of the female investigators and we take most of the men as its kind of dame for elders to teach women because they tend to be a tad bit flirtatious with us. Well once we arrived in Fukuroi, I received my mama chari (borrowed bike) and off we went to meet a less active member. From there we proceeded to our apartment. The next day we studied and then went to a place called FIFA but not the soccer organization. Here I receive help on my language as I try to expand my conversational Japanese vocabulary and where apparently Elder Coleman picked up some new investigators. After that we had a meeting with a recent convert. I didn't understand much as he spoke some funky Japanese but we taught him and apparently it was a good lesson. After that we did some book work as we are trying to better learn the area and its people. We also taught Eikaiwa, English class, that night which was fun and interesting as I was trying to help Japanese people speak English when I can barely speak Japanese. The next day, Friday, we continued studying and book work. Than we went with an investigator and the sisters to an old folks home to do some service. The sister rode with the investigator, Eiako San, and we biked and biked and biked for what seemed like a long ti,e but it was all good. After returning we met with an investigator to introduce ourselves. His name is Takano San and he is awesome he is progressing and has been taught pretty much all of the lessons he is just having some struggles giving up cigarettes. But we expect to see him baptized in the next month. We have some other progressing investigators but he is the most promising right now. So on to Saturday. We spent the day studying and going to FIFA and after we studied at FIFA we put on a church tour for the people that were interested from FIFA. They seemed to really enjoy it and we got some very promising investigators. After that I realized how out of shape the MTC can make a person. We were going to dinner with a member but this member is all the way in Iwata. It was a 9 km bike ride which translates to 5.5 miles. We were riding through the country side through hills and everything and I was riding a ridiculously heavy mama chari. This thing is made of like solid steel. The real killer is it only had 3 gears. But I made it. Then the member took us out to eat. They were very nice. They are the Koide family and it's just the parents but some of their kids are still in Fukuroi. They treated us to a nice dinner and you guys would have looked at half the food and ask wait Elder Williams ate that!? But I ate what I ate and there's no turning back. After the nice dinner we, but it's was me with a little help when needed saying correct sentences so they could understand, left a message and then headed back out to return home another 9 km. We made in one piece but legs thought I tried to kill them. I slept really good that night. Now it's Sunday where we had a meeting with the ward mission leader and ward missionaries. Didn't really understand much but I gave a prayer. Then church began I greeted everyone at the door and was looking for some of our investigators. We unfortunately didn't have any attend church but it's all good they'll be there next week. Then sacrament meeting started I understood the sacrament prayers and knew that I was asked to give a short gikoshyokai (personal introduction) and my testimony. Afterwards, Elder Zian gave a talk about ward unity with the missionaries and with in them selves. Following there was a talk that was about temples but that was it. After that was the rest of church and I really don't know what happened but it happened. After church we had ward council and as of right now the branch president isn't very helpful but things may change. After that we went home ate some food and went housing. During which we found a pretty promising investigator and I also met my first mahikari. Well that's pretty much all from me. 愛しています ウイリアムズ 長老 Love, Elder Williams |
MissionCalled to Serve in the Japan Nagoya Mission.. Archives
July 2017
Categories |