the one where he doesn't even know where to begin

"Boom, you looking for this?"

This week was absolutely phenomenal, and it was filled to the brim with miracles... get ready for a long one. 

Starting with Monday, we went to a meat buffet with one of our members, and it was so awesome! I don't think I'll ever get sick of the meat buffets here! After that, we went to Osaka castle and ended up seeing a bunch of other missionaries there... They were all there for a zone P day, and we happened to run into them, and it was pretty funny! Overall, it was a pretty good p day

Tuesday, we had District Council, and it was super fun! I tried to make it more fun, so we did a kahoot...to all you missionaries out there, in case you didn't already know, kahoot is not blocked on our phones. Do with that what you will. Lately, we have also been seeing a crazy amount of miracles! Changing the way we plan the day and praying more often have completely changed missionary work for us! I'll share two experiences that we had. 

On Wednesday, we were biking to place where we wanted to street people and abruptly, my comp stopped and was like, "I kinda feel like we should knock that apartment" I look to my right and see a MASSIVE apartment that had 15 floors and at least 25 apartments on each floor. While I was looking over at it, he continued and said, "... but I don't know if it's just me or not. " So we decided to hit a quick prayer, and when we ended, he looked at me and was like, "Yeah, we should knock it." and I replied,"Yeah, and we need to start on the 6th floor." Without another word, we biked over and headed straight to the sixth floor. We had been knocking for maybe 10 minutes when a nice old lady answered the door. We told her that we were teaching about God and Jesus Christ and asked her if she wanted to hear a quick lesson from us. To our surprise, she said yes. We began teaching her about God's love for her and introduced the Book of Mormon. She agreed to take and read it, and we talked about the next time we would come over. I love this experience because my comp and I could not have found her if we were working alone. He received the initial prompting to stop and go into the apartment. If not for him, we wouldn't have stopped there in the first place. After that, I was able to receive direction on exactly where we should go. It truly shows the importance of having companionship unity when doing the Lords work.

Later that day, we were on our way home, and during daily planning that day, my comp had another strong impression to go to a specific park and talk to someone there. The time we had planned to go to the park was nearing, and we didn't have as much time as we would have liked. We were also visiting some non active members, so we decided to only bike past the park, and if there were lots of people, we would stop by for a few minutes on our way home. We passed the park and there was no one. Just desolate. So we visited the members on our way home, and we still felt like we needed to go to the park. As a missionary, I always try to say hello to people as I bike or walk past them. Our first time passing the park, I had said hi to this one white guy who, when I greeted him, beamed a very bright smile. As we approached the park, I saw someone who I recognized. That same guy, with the same smile on his face. As soon as he saw us, he started walking over to us and was so excited to see us. He told us about how when I had said hello to him, that it really made his day and after that, every person he passed by, he made sure to greet them. He ended up being from Minnesota and really wanted to talk with us about what we believe. We agreed to meet up the next week, and it was another amazing miracle.

Thursday we went to one of the biggest festivals in Japan with our friend Kai! It was so much fun, and they had SO MANY fireworks! It was so cool and we had such a good time with him! But it was so crowded! There were over 1 million people there, and boy could you feel it!

Friday, we had Ping Pong night, and it was so great! Last week, we met a new friend named Ayane, and she is so awesome! She just made it to Japan this week, so she came to ping pong night, and we met her in person! She is super fun and SO elect! We are hoping to get her baptized next transfer 🤞🤞

Saturday, we had eikaiwa, and it was as good as usual! It was a really fun day! Kai and Saw Say Muu came, and it was so good to see both of them at eikaiwa!

Sunday was AMAZING! We had FOUR of our friends come to church! We had Muu, Mima, Ayane, and Kai all come! It was SUCH a good day, and they are all becoming friends with each other, and it is so cool to see! After the second hour, we talked and ate snacks with everyone, and the ward did such a wonderful job at getting to know them. Also, Mima has been wanting to get baptized for a while, but he has been a little scared to tell his family and his Buddhist community, so he hasn't set a date yet. But today, things changed. He sent my comp and I a message about how before he gets baptized, he wants to visit his ancestors' grave to pay them respect. He invited us to come with him and we are so excited. While talking about what day and time we wanted to go and started talking about baptism a little more. He told me that he wanted me to baptize him, and because of that, he wanted to get baptized this coming transfer while I am still for sure here. I was so excited to hear the news, and we set his baptismal date for August 25th. Please keep praying for him that he will be able to make his date!

Well, this has already been a really long email, and I've already talked about lots of spiritual experiences, so I will forgo the spiritual thought this week. Feel free to email me!

That's all, folks.

So many of our friends came to church on Sunday!

Went to Osaka Castle!

View from the top of the Castle!

So many pics of the festival

Meat kabob was fire!

So many people!

Ping pong night!!

the one where his prayers were answered

 "Boom, you looking for this?"

Starting with Tuesday, we had such a good p day!!! For once, we actually did something! We found this dope hike to a waterfall and another one to this pond, so we spent the whole day hiking! It was such a blast and were gonna try to go do outdoor type stuff more often for P day. Of course I brought the hammock and hung around a river for a good bit of time.😁😁

Wednesday we went out to lunch with Mima and we had such a good lesson while we ate! We talked about most of the commandments, and he said that he is for sure gonna get baptized he just doesn't know when yet. I'm not sure, but I think when I told him that I will most likely be here for 8 more weeks, he kinda set 8 weeks as a deadline to get baptized. It would be so awesome if I was here for his baptism! So, hopefully, it all goes well!

Thursday, we went on exchanges, and I was with Elder Hougaard! He got to Japan at the beginning of this transfer, so he is pretty fresh. He is a super sick dude, and we got 8 people l's contact information for either english lessons or for lessons about the gospel! Overall, it was such a good day! 

Friday, we met up with this guy Landon, who served here like 9 years ago and went and got some indian curry with him! After eating, he wanted to go streeting with us and it was AWESOME! His Japanese is still so good, and we learned so much from him! After streeting with him, Elder Campbell and I decided to completely change the way we street and talk to people on the street. 

Saturday, we met up with Kai and went bowling with him! Let's go!! It was SO FUN, but man, did I suck... they didn't have oil on the lane, and I couldn't figure out what to do...eventually, I got the hang of it, and I wasn't doing as bad. After bowling we went and got sushi with him which is as good as usual. We finished the day by making some cookies for the members. Then we had English class and ping pong, and it was another super good day. 

Sunday, we had church, which was awesome, but sadly, none of our friends came. After church, though, we passed out the cookies, and the members were so thankful. I then had to call a bunch of missionaries since I'm district leader, and after that and studies, we had about an hour to go finding. We were super excited to go because it was our first day of trying to use our new plan for streeting. The miracles that night were astounding. We passed out three Book of Mormons and found two people who wanted to keep meeting us! It was so great, and we were on a cloud that night. 

Spiritual Thought 

Alma 34:17-27

17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you; 

18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save. 

19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him. 

20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks. 

21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening. 

22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies. 

23 Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness. 

24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them. 

25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase. 

26 But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. 

27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.

 

"Prayer will lift us and draw us together as individuals, as families, as a church, and as a world. Prayer will influence scientists and help them toward discoveries of vaccines and medications that will end this pandemic. Prayer will comfort those who have lost a loved one. It will guide us in knowing what to do for our own personal protection.

Brothers and sisters, I urge you to redouble your commitment to prayer. I urge you to pray in your closets, in your daily walk, in your homes, in your wards, and always in your hearts."

– M. Russell Ballard 

I just wanted to talk a little bit about prayer today. The biggest change that my comp and I made in our efforts to find new people was that we started praying more specifically and more frequently. We said maybe 15 prayers in the span of the hour we went finding, and the Lord blessed us because of it. I have such a strong testimony in prayer and the power that it has. Through prayer, we can do so many marvelous works.

That's all I got this week! Feel free to email me!

That's all, folks. 

Had to bring the hammock....its just like the old days🥹

The hike to the first falls

Flicks of the falls...

👍

Ah yeah 🤙

The view on the way to the pond

Another view from up top

We caught a snake 🐍

He's pretty cool

Lunch with Mima

Had a lesson with some sister missionaries and

their friend who is coming back to Japan!

Another flick of the lesson

the one with too much grease

 "Boom, you looking for this?"

Starting with Tuesday, we started out by going to the best burger spot in japan: Bugers and Tacos. It was so gas but, the burger I got last time was better. Then we went around and looked at some card shops for the others guys, and I tried to find some books in Japanese to practice but to no avail. Luckily, amazon came in clutch, and I got some fire books to read. Other than that, we didn't do much.

Wednesday, we went on exchanges in Abeno! I was with Elder Oliveira, and we had a pretty good day! We talked to tons of people, and we went to lunch with the other elders there, so six of us pulled up to good ol' reliable: McDonald's. The funny thing is we just had gone there last Saturday with one of our friends so we were getting tired of eating out. 

Thursday, we had a pretty busy day, and we started it off by teaching this sick dude in Canada. Apparently, the missionaries over there have ghosted him, and after a long story, we were able to teach him. He is so elect, and the dude already wants to get baptized. I don't know how those Canada guys are fumbling this guy. Hopefully, it will all work out 🤞 We also went to Burger King with a friend, and we were very tired of eating out... we were so ready to just make food at home.

Friday, we ate out again, but this time, it wasn't as bad...it was some super fire ramen, and we happened to see Elder Coates (my last comp) there, which was pretty funny. Other than that, we spent pretty much the rest of the day just finding. 

Saturday, we were finally ready for lunch at home, and we cooked up some fire karage (its kinda like chicken nuggets, just not as cheap), and it was the GREASIEST thing I've had in japan. It was pretty killer (not in a good way) and me and my comp and I were ready to die. Besides grease, we had another lesson with Saw Say Muu, and we invited him to get baptized! Unfortunately, he said he wanted to think about it more, but he said he would ask God so we know he'll come around! After that, we had eikaiwa and ended up having to do a LOT of cleanup after (long story, but our spiritual message got a little out of hand). 

Sunday, Kai came to church, and we had a lesson with him after! We taught about the restoration and he said it was a lot but I think he enjoyed the day! He also gave us a bunch of super dope japanese treats and snacks at eikaiwa, so he's the sickest dude ever. One of the other Elders that lived with us ended up getting sick, and so we ended up also teaching one of their friends. It was a good day, and the rest of the day, I just had lots of District Leader things to do.

Spiritual Thought 

Ether 12:6

And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

"Every time you try your faith, that is, act in worthiness on an impression, you will receive the confirming evidence of the Spirit. Those feelings will fortify your faith. As you repeat that pattern, your faith will become stronger. The Lord knows your needs. When you ask with honesty and real intent, He will prompt you to do that which will increase your ability to act in faith. With consistent practice, faith will become a vibrant, powerful, uplifting, inspiring force in your life. As you walk to the boundary of your understanding into the twilight of uncertainty, exercising faith, you will be led to find solutions you would not obtain otherwise. I testify that I know that is true.

Even if you exercise your strongest faith, God will not always reward you immediately according to your desires. Rather, God will respond with what in His eternal plan is best for you. He loves you to a depth and completeness you cannot conceive of in your mortal state. Indeed, were you to know His entire plan, you would never ask for that which is contrary to it even though your feelings tempt you to do so. Sincere faith gives understanding and strength to accept the will of our Heavenly Father when it differs from our own. We can accept His will with peace and assurance, confident that His infinite wisdom surpasses our own ability to comprehend fully His plan as it unfolds a piece at a time."

–Richard G. Scott

 That's all I got this week! Feel free to email me!

That's all, folks. 

best burgers!

Zone Conference pics!

the one where he forgot a title

"Boom, you looking for this?"

Starting with Monday, it was pretty chill, and we just went around and did some shopping for the other guys and stuff.

Tuesday, we had DCM and President Sano (mission pres) pulled up, and it was awesome! I gave a training about miracles, faith, and discipline, and it was pretty fire! I also interviewed a friend for one of the companionships in my district, and he should be getting baptized this week! Being a district leader is pretty crazy!!

Thursday was weekly planning, and we have so many awesome friends to plan for! Osaka has been popping off lately! We have also been meeting with Saw Say Muu for 30 minutes every weekday, and it's been so awesome!! He is so elected, and we are trying to put him on date soon!

Friday we celebrated 4th of July (because it was the 4th of July in America). And yours truly made some fire fried chicken and mashed potatoes for the whole apartment, and we had a pretty fire night.

Saturday, we went to lunch with the Hemmi family, and then we had a lesson with Mima and then English class! We extended the baptismal invitation, and he wants to get baptized! We couldn't set a date because he still needs to talk to his family, but he wants to get baptized! Eikaiwa was super awesome, and we had tons of friends come!

Monday, we had ZONE CONFERENCE!!!! It was super awesome, and we talked about so much stuff! We had a big focus on getting friends to church because Elder Stevenson said that people who go to church their first week of being taught are 9 times more likely to get dunked! I paraphrased that last part a little. So yeah, church and members are so important!

Spiritual Thought 

Jacob 7:26

And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,’ said Frodo. ‘So do I,’ said Gandalf, ‘and so do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

–J.R.R. Tolkien 

Dont got anything to add! It's getting kinda late! But feel free to email me this week! 

That's all, folks.

Good ol 4th of July from Japan

Took some more pics with the monkey, and the guy came out and said, Hi😆

We made it inside....

Okonomiyaki with Irie 兄弟 again

Dog 68😏

🔥🔥🔥

We both brought shirts just for today

Made some fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy for everyone

😐😑😐

Sick day at eikaiwa

Apparently, this is what we look like when we teach...

Pulling up to church and it is so hot and humid