A lot of rain won't stop the fun!
September 27, 2016
 |
| A little rain doesn't stop us from having a ward BBQ! |
 |
| We just put up some tents and cook away! |
 |
| Two sad missionaries. :( |
 |
| Dinner with Saitos and some members. |
 |
| Elder Ricks and Elder Unsworth in Tokyo |
 |
| Two cool missionaries! |
 |
| We sure look great leaning against this wall! |
 |
| One happy elder! |
 |
| Great tag pictures to make my mom happy! |
 |
| Have you ever seen a more handsome missionary? |
Hey there family and friends. This week has been a crazy fun one and I
am love it with my new companion Elder Ricks. He is a great guy and I
love being with him. I feel like every day we learn more and more
about each other and just have a blast everyday!
The other night I was feeling a bit down because I wasn't getting the
success that I knew the area deserved. I just new that there was so
much potential with our are and I didn't know why we weren't seeing
any success. So I said a prayer that I really needed help with my
mission and talking with people. I really wanted to find some people
who I could help and talk with because so many people don't even stop
to talk with us. Well yesterday we went out and did our finding. I
had the impression to try finding in a new area which I have never
been to before. We biked down there and on the way there was no one
there. But when we got to the small city we started talking to as
many people as we could. After talking to about 10 people a guy came
up to us who was from India and asked if we needed any help. I then
turned to him and explained who we are and what we do and he was kind
of shocked. He couldn't believe that we were from America and that we
were here talking about God. We talked for a good 15 minutes and
simply explained what we believe in and talked about the Book of
Mormon. I then asked him if he wanted to learn more and he said sure.
I was so happy! We found a new investigator when it seemed like the
whole pond was dried up! We set a date to meet up again and then
left. All of a sudden, there was a huge rain cloud above us and it
poured like no ones business. We found shelter and waited the storm
out because we didn't have our rain gear. After 10 minutes we
returned to the streets and did some more finding. I started talking
to some guy and then out of no where a guy comes up and starts talking
to Elder Ricks. He tells him he has a cool bike and Elder Ricks does
everything in his power to keep him there while I finish talking to my
guy. I finally get done and I turn to Elder Ricks guy and start
talking to him. It turns out that he really likes bikes and he sees
us sometimes on our bikes. He also told us that he has been really
thinking a lot recently about religion and how it can help his life.
He wants to learn more about our church and see if it can help his
life. He also has a lot of interest in English class, so we are going
to teach him English and the gospel! It was such a cool miracle. Two
new investigators in under an hour. I know for a fact that this was
the hand of the lord. He helped me so much and all it took was a
heart felt prayer and some work. I think he was waiting until I was
ready to receive the blessings he had for me.
Saturday was the big day of miracles. We started a Bible study class.
We went to Eikaiwa and got all our stuff ready for the class. Elder
Ricks and I were so excited. When I announced it during Eikaiwa not
too many people seemed excited or seemed to have interest but that
didn't put me down. Really that whole day I had a prayer in my heart
that people would come. We taught Eikaiwa and then asked if people
would stay for our other class. We got everything up and ready and we
had a total of 5 students stay! Two of them are members and the other
three are nonmembers! It was such a cool miracle. I was pleading
with the Lord that at least one person would stay! I didn't expect
five to stay. One of them was even a new Eikaiwa student that just
came that day! I was so happy with the results. We taught about the
Nativity and the true meaning of Christmas. We focused in Luke
chapter 2 and used a projected to project our iPad screen on the wall.
We have an app that has English and Japanese bible's right next to
each other so it made it very easy to teach and understand. We went
through the verses one by one and described it and then we would watch
the bible video that went with it so that they could picture it in
their minds better. For example one student didn't understand what
the word 栄光, glory means. But when we watched the video she was able
to put it together and then we would stop the video and describe what
was going on. We went through the whole nativity and watched all the
videos in under 30 minutes. I don't want the class to be too long, so
I cut the class off after 30 minutes. All of the students said they
really liked it and that they wanted to come back again next week and
do it again. I was also surprised on how well they could read the
English bible, it was awesome! We want to do this class twice a week.
Wednesday before Eikaiwa and Saturdays after Eikaiwa. I think it is
really going to be a game changer and we might be able to find some
new investigators through it. If anything, I want to invite the
spirit into the hearts of my Eikaiwa students and help them feel the
love God has for them. Overall, our bible class was very successful.
But it doesn't end there with the miracles. After our study we went
out and did some finding. There wasn't really anyone who had
interest, so we left and was heading towards Carlos's house for a
lesson. We passed a kabob truck and I saw a picture of Jesus in it.
That's not normal, so I thought maybe I should talk to them. I had a
really strong feeling to stop and talk but I knew that I needed to go
to Carlos's lesson because they are so rare. So I brushed the
prompting off and told myself that I would go back after the lesson.
Well we got to Carlos's house and he wasn't there. He told us he
wouldn't be there for another 30 minutes or so. So I got back on my
bike and hauled it back over to the kabob truck. I started talking
with the two guys who owned the company and really got to know them.
After talking for awhile it came up that we were church volunteers and
then they told me they were Catholic. The one I got closes to was
John and he really opened up to me that night. He asked me a lot of
questions about church because he use to be a Muslim and didn't
understand the church 100%. For example he asked me why Jesus talked
to his "Father" on the cross. How could he have done that if he was
the father? I then explained what we believed in and how God is our
Hevenly Father and Jesus Christ is His son. He thought that was very
interesting and agreed with me. We then talked a lot more about Jesus
Christ and I noticed that I probably had to start leaving so that I
could get back to Carlos on time. So I asked him if he wanted to
learn more and he said of course. So we exchanged phone numbers and
set up a time to meet again this week. He is such a nice guy and I am
way excited to meet with him again. We got to Carlos's house at 8:55
and talked with him until 9:15. It was a way good lesson and now we
know exactly what to do with him and how to help him. It was just an
awesome day of miracles!
Well I am out of time for the week. I love you all so much and I hope
you have an amazing week! It sounds like there are storms all over the
world so everyone be careful and take care. You are in my prayers and
I love you so much. Thank you for all you do for me. This week I
really learned about how the lord always blesses us if we are humble
and submissive. I hope you all can see miracles in your life as well
when you are humble and submissive to the Lord. I love you and I will
talk to you next week. Take care! :)
am love it with my new companion Elder Ricks. He is a great guy and I
love being with him. I feel like every day we learn more and more
about each other and just have a blast everyday!
The other night I was feeling a bit down because I wasn't getting the
success that I knew the area deserved. I just new that there was so
much potential with our are and I didn't know why we weren't seeing
any success. So I said a prayer that I really needed help with my
mission and talking with people. I really wanted to find some people
who I could help and talk with because so many people don't even stop
to talk with us. Well yesterday we went out and did our finding. I
had the impression to try finding in a new area which I have never
been to before. We biked down there and on the way there was no one
there. But when we got to the small city we started talking to as
many people as we could. After talking to about 10 people a guy came
up to us who was from India and asked if we needed any help. I then
turned to him and explained who we are and what we do and he was kind
of shocked. He couldn't believe that we were from America and that we
were here talking about God. We talked for a good 15 minutes and
simply explained what we believe in and talked about the Book of
Mormon. I then asked him if he wanted to learn more and he said sure.
I was so happy! We found a new investigator when it seemed like the
whole pond was dried up! We set a date to meet up again and then
left. All of a sudden, there was a huge rain cloud above us and it
poured like no ones business. We found shelter and waited the storm
out because we didn't have our rain gear. After 10 minutes we
returned to the streets and did some more finding. I started talking
to some guy and then out of no where a guy comes up and starts talking
to Elder Ricks. He tells him he has a cool bike and Elder Ricks does
everything in his power to keep him there while I finish talking to my
guy. I finally get done and I turn to Elder Ricks guy and start
talking to him. It turns out that he really likes bikes and he sees
us sometimes on our bikes. He also told us that he has been really
thinking a lot recently about religion and how it can help his life.
He wants to learn more about our church and see if it can help his
life. He also has a lot of interest in English class, so we are going
to teach him English and the gospel! It was such a cool miracle. Two
new investigators in under an hour. I know for a fact that this was
the hand of the lord. He helped me so much and all it took was a
heart felt prayer and some work. I think he was waiting until I was
ready to receive the blessings he had for me.
Saturday was the big day of miracles. We started a Bible study class.
We went to Eikaiwa and got all our stuff ready for the class. Elder
Ricks and I were so excited. When I announced it during Eikaiwa not
too many people seemed excited or seemed to have interest but that
didn't put me down. Really that whole day I had a prayer in my heart
that people would come. We taught Eikaiwa and then asked if people
would stay for our other class. We got everything up and ready and we
had a total of 5 students stay! Two of them are members and the other
three are nonmembers! It was such a cool miracle. I was pleading
with the Lord that at least one person would stay! I didn't expect
five to stay. One of them was even a new Eikaiwa student that just
came that day! I was so happy with the results. We taught about the
Nativity and the true meaning of Christmas. We focused in Luke
chapter 2 and used a projected to project our iPad screen on the wall.
We have an app that has English and Japanese bible's right next to
each other so it made it very easy to teach and understand. We went
through the verses one by one and described it and then we would watch
the bible video that went with it so that they could picture it in
their minds better. For example one student didn't understand what
the word 栄光, glory means. But when we watched the video she was able
to put it together and then we would stop the video and describe what
was going on. We went through the whole nativity and watched all the
videos in under 30 minutes. I don't want the class to be too long, so
I cut the class off after 30 minutes. All of the students said they
really liked it and that they wanted to come back again next week and
do it again. I was also surprised on how well they could read the
English bible, it was awesome! We want to do this class twice a week.
Wednesday before Eikaiwa and Saturdays after Eikaiwa. I think it is
really going to be a game changer and we might be able to find some
new investigators through it. If anything, I want to invite the
spirit into the hearts of my Eikaiwa students and help them feel the
love God has for them. Overall, our bible class was very successful.
But it doesn't end there with the miracles. After our study we went
out and did some finding. There wasn't really anyone who had
interest, so we left and was heading towards Carlos's house for a
lesson. We passed a kabob truck and I saw a picture of Jesus in it.
That's not normal, so I thought maybe I should talk to them. I had a
really strong feeling to stop and talk but I knew that I needed to go
to Carlos's lesson because they are so rare. So I brushed the
prompting off and told myself that I would go back after the lesson.
Well we got to Carlos's house and he wasn't there. He told us he
wouldn't be there for another 30 minutes or so. So I got back on my
bike and hauled it back over to the kabob truck. I started talking
with the two guys who owned the company and really got to know them.
After talking for awhile it came up that we were church volunteers and
then they told me they were Catholic. The one I got closes to was
John and he really opened up to me that night. He asked me a lot of
questions about church because he use to be a Muslim and didn't
understand the church 100%. For example he asked me why Jesus talked
to his "Father" on the cross. How could he have done that if he was
the father? I then explained what we believed in and how God is our
Hevenly Father and Jesus Christ is His son. He thought that was very
interesting and agreed with me. We then talked a lot more about Jesus
Christ and I noticed that I probably had to start leaving so that I
could get back to Carlos on time. So I asked him if he wanted to
learn more and he said of course. So we exchanged phone numbers and
set up a time to meet again this week. He is such a nice guy and I am
way excited to meet with him again. We got to Carlos's house at 8:55
and talked with him until 9:15. It was a way good lesson and now we
know exactly what to do with him and how to help him. It was just an
awesome day of miracles!
Well I am out of time for the week. I love you all so much and I hope
you have an amazing week! It sounds like there are storms all over the
world so everyone be careful and take care. You are in my prayers and
I love you so much. Thank you for all you do for me. This week I
really learned about how the lord always blesses us if we are humble
and submissive. I hope you all can see miracles in your life as well
when you are humble and submissive to the Lord. I love you and I will
talk to you next week. Take care! :)
No comments:
Post a Comment