25 December 2016 - Christmas call!

We got to talk to Peter on our Christmas (day after Christmas for him - his Pday) so we didn't get an email, but he sent lots of pictures.  He looks and sounds great and is well taken care of in his ward. Still no luck finding people wanting to hear about the gospel.  Keep the prayers coming!

The ward gathers food all month long and gives it to the missionaries on Fast Sunday.  What a wonderful ward!

I'm assuming this is a picture of Mt Fuji in the distance . . . 

This series of pictures makes me feel like the Failure Mom of the Year.  Peter's package arrived early and I didn't send another so he had nothing to open Christmas morning while his companions did. :(

18 December 2016

18 December 2016

Not a whole lot has changed. Except that I have a new companion. His name is Languido Chōrō.

The Kōhoku ward is so great. There are so many kind wonderful people here. We have three meals this week alone with members including one on Christmas Eve. I really wish we could find the people prepared to join this great ward. We really owe it to them.

I don't really have much to say about this week to be honest. Just a lot of tedious missionary work.

I've been reading through the New Testament this month. It's a great reminder of Christs example everyday.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas this Sunday. Keep on being good examples for those around you and always be ready to bare your testimony of Christ for those who need to hear it.

I forgot to mention that we went to Yokohama on Monday.

Last picture with Elder Draper. :(

 And went to the Pokémon center.

Landmark Tower in Yokohama

I think Peter is missing Star Wars . . . 

Somewhere in Yokohama

Sisters left the elders a present. So sweet!

I'm assuming one of those guys in suits is his new companion, Elder Languido

11 December 2016

11 December 2016

Well. Transfer calls have arrived and my incredible dōryō is leaving me behind unfortunately. I'm going to miss him. He really was amazing. 

So yes, I shall be in Kōhoku for the next eight weeks. I guess that's the good news. I really like the Kōhoku ward, they are all so friendly and kind.

We sang Angels We Have Heard on High in seisankai(sacrament meeting). It was nice. We sang it in English, despite plans to sing first and last verse English and second verse Japanese. But we did sing the last verse a capella which I thought was interesting. Especially since the last verse is an invitation which goes along with our purpose as senkyōshi. Our dendo shunin (ward mission leader) joined in just that morning because he got there when we were practicing and the bishop joined in as well. So it was the three pairs of senkyōshi, a recent convert, the dendo shunin and the bishop in total. 

So last night we visited with a member who converted when we was 18. (He is much much older than 18 now) He is super kind and he told us to come drop by whenever we wanted. When we did he gave us rootbeer and cream soda. We talked about his life and his conversion a bit (or rather, Draper Chōrō and he talked and I just tried by best to follow along). When it was about time to share our message, Draper Chōrō shared Alma 13:24, a scripture we had talked about recently. Apparently he really wants to share the gospel as well but isn't sure how. I shared 2 Nephi 21:11, 12 and 2 Nephi 29:7. We talked about how there are many people in Japan who are and have been prepared to hear the gospel. Draped Chōrō encouraged him to pray for the opportunities to share his knowledge of the gospel. 

Then we had possibly the strangest experiences I've had so far.

We were invited over to a Bolivian families home in our ward. All six missionaries. They are a great family. So but at the table we had De Chōrō speaking Portuguese to this brother who is using Spanish back to him and then the rest of the table is using Japanese to him and English to each other while we ate some Brazilian food. It was the weirdest culture mix I've ever experienced. Haha. It was pretty exciting.

It was a pretty good week. We had a few really good contacts with some people, I went on splits with 太田(Ota) Chōrō, Pearce Chōrō, Nelson Chōrō and Burnham Chōrō all in one week. Had a first real lesson with Burnham Chōrō with a less active member. We talked about having sincere prayer. It was really good. 

I'm excited to meet my new companion, sad that I have to say goodbye to Draper Chōrō so soon, and ready for another eight weeks here in Kōhoku with this fantastic ward.

I totally forgot to talk about going to this brothers okonomiyaki
shop/home where we made some okonomiyaki. It was really good.

Here are the pictures of making okonomiyaki -

Christmas time!

Time to buy a bike to get around